By:
Virginia Iversen, M.Ed
Chair
Yoga classes offer students many of the same benefits as
traditional classes. A regular practice of asanas, pranayama exercises and
meditation techniques offers students an increased level of flexibility,
more physical strength and a calmer, more focused mind. As a certified
Yoga teacher, you are probably aware of the profound transformation that can
occur when a practitioner commits to a regular practice. In the same way, participatingin Chair Yoga classes several times a week will offer students many
of the same benefits as a traditional Yoga class.
It is
quite common for individuals, who are challenged with any number of health
issues, to feel intimidated about participating in a traditional Yoga class.
Some of the more common health issues that affect a student's ability to safely
and comfortably participate in regular Yoga class are healing from surgery,
healing from a traumatic brain injury, older students, and students
with underlying serious health issues, such as multiple sclerosis and
cancer. When you offer Chair Yoga classes to these specialized groups of
students, you will be enabling them to reap the benefits of a regular practice
in a safe and accessible manner.
Generally
speaking, there are two categories of students who frequently seek out Chair
Yoga classes. The first category of students is often comprised of experienced
Yoga practitioners, who are dealing with some type of challenging physical
health issue. The second category of students is usually made up of
practitioners who are new to the practice, but who have heard about how
effective and helpful a regular practice of Yoga can be during the process of
healing from a serious illness or injury.
Many of
the new students who are drawn to Chair Yoga classes have been quite
physically active in the past. Other new students may be motivated to take a
Chair Yoga class because their doctor told them that they need to get more
exercise, in order to improve their level of physical health. In either
case, a regular practice of Yoga, with or without a chair, will benefit
all of the students mentioned above. Additionally, when you offer Chair
Yoga classes to students in your community, who feel more comfortable practicing
with the support of a chair, you are doing a great service.
Many of
these students would otherwise not participate in any form of physical fitness
if you did not offer accessible and welcoming Chair Yoga classes. There is
a fine art to sequencing an effective, safe and challenging Chair Yoga class.
The way that you sequence a class will depend on the group of students
whom you're teaching. There are many different ways to sequence Chair Yoga
classes, in order to more fully and appropriately accommodate the specialized
group of students with whom you are working.
If you are
a newly certified Yoga teacher, by offering Chair Yoga classes in your
community, you will also carve out a specialized niche for yourself as a
teacher. Depending on the area where you live, securing a paid position as a
Yoga teacher in a local studio or health club may be quite competitive. In
addition, if you are planning on opening up your own Yoga studio, you may find
that the market where you live and work is quite difficult to break into. By
offering specialized classes, you will be creating a teaching niche for
yourself, which will help you to be more competitive as you establish
yourself in your community as a professional Yoga teacher.
Virginia Iversen, M.Ed, has been practicing and studying the art
of Yoga for over twenty years. She lives in Woodstock, New York, where she
works as a writer and an academic support specialist. She is currently
accepting Yoga and health-related writing orders and may be contacted at: enchantress108@gmail.com.
© Copyright 2016 – Virginia Iversen / Aura Wellness Center –
Publications Division
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3 comments:
How do i get training?
Participating Chair Yoga classes several times a week will offer students many of the same benefits as a traditional Yoga class.
www.sunlightchairyoga.com for a book and teacher trainings
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