Aqua Yoga Certification

Aqua yoga is specially designed for practice in the water and is a popular program with those who have trouble with mobility on land, including pregnant woman, the elderly and those with arthritis. The practice combines the therapeutic qualities and natural buoyancy of water with the meditative and exercise benefits of yoga. Aqua yoga teachers are trained in water safety and rescue as well as how to adapt traditional yoga poses for water.

  1. About Aqua Yoga

    • Françoise Barbira Freedman, a medical anthropologist, developed aqua yoga in 1986 by combining her training as a swimmer and swim instructor with yoga. The first classes were explicitly designed for pregnant women, infants and new mothers. Aqua yoga classes are now offered at pools and health clubs around the United States and in Europe.

    Teacher Training

    • Yoga teachers can obtain certification for teaching yoga and aqua yoga at schools around the United States. Neither yoga nor aqua yoga teacher training follow nationally or internationally recognized standards, so training varies from school to school. However, many yoga teacher training programs follow the standards set by The Yoga Alliance, including 200 to 500 hours of training in exercise techniques, teaching methodology, anatomy and physiology, philosophy and history, breathing, meditation, practice and teaching experience. Additional training for aqua yoga teaching certification might consist of a single five- or six -hour class or a weekend workshop. This is usually considered a specialty certification over and above traditional yoga certification. Certification from some programs is also available not only to those who have completed yoga teaching certification, but also to swimming teachers, health professionals, midwives and others. Aqua yoga teacher training courses teach lifesaving skills like rescue and CPR for teachers who will work in pools without a lifeguard on deck.

    Aqua Yoga vs. Traditional Yoga

    • Traditional yoga done on land might incorporate foam blocks, blankets, mats, straps and the wall for practicing poses. Aqua yoga classes might instead use foam "noodles" that float and can help with meditation, stretching, and in particular, the Savasana "rest" pose for relaxation and rejuvenation at the end of class. Aqua yoga is also lower impact than traditional yoga, putting less stain on joints and allowing those who have trouble moving or standing for long periods to get excellent exercise and meditative yoga practice.

    Typical Aqua Yoga Class

    • An aqua yoga class might begin with a warm-up in a standing pose, like mountain pose, followed by leg circles. The class might then move to the shallow end of the pool to practice lunging poses, including Warrior I, II and III. Practice might then shift to balancing poses, including Tree pose, Eagle pose and Pigeon pose. These could be followed by core exercises, including Spinal Twists and Cobra and Plank poses, which you perform while floating and holding the edge of the pool. The class might end with a relaxing back float using noodles or other buoyant pool equipment.

    Benefits of Aqua Yoga

    • Aqua yoga is good for people with back pain or arthritis because it is safe for joints and muscles that are susceptible to strain and injury. People with arthritis or fibromyalgia, as well as the elderly, the overweight, those with high blood pressure and those recovering from injury or surgery might also find aqua yoga preferable to traditional yoga or other exercise. Certain poses that might be difficult or impossible for some students on land are easier to practice in the water. Yoga practice in water also smoothes movements and adds grace to poses while providing a medium for meditative yogic relief. Aqua yoga also has the added benefit of easing birth for pregnant women by keeping muscles fit and strong during pregnancy.