Chair Yoga Certification

Chair Yoga

There are a lot of forms of yoga, and although Chair Yoga is not formally recognized as a yoga type, it is generally used to identify a milder yoga form which is performed through being seated in a chair or the use of a chair as support while standing.

  It is distinct from other yoga forms such as Ashtanga or Lyengar yoga; however, the asanas or poses of chair yoga are frequently adaptations of the poses from Hatha yoga.  Chair Yoga is one of the most simple of yoga practices where the complicated maneuvers and inversions of most formal yoga classes are not necessary.

Often, people who practice chair yoga are not able to participate in conventional yoga classes because of disabilities or aging effects.  Classes for chair yoga are sometimes obtainable at retirement facilities, daycare centers for adults, and fitness centers for seniors.  It is generally taught as a means to achieve mental and physical fitness, and not as a way of life like the majority of the Western world’s yoga classes.  In this respect, it is considered as a more comprehensive exercise as it integrates proper breathing and meditation, on top of the physical exercise.

A good number of people in chair yoga classes have issues with their health, and a lot of them are practicing it because of recommendations given by health professionals handling their conditions.  A good teacher of Chair Yoga would be aware of the limitations a student may have, and give the appropriate class suitable for the student.

These classes not only provide a healthy physical activity, but also give a social activity which helps in the positive stimulation of the body and mind, making it an uplifting action that students look forward to.  Regular practice and presence, as well as socializing in the classes, is an activity that leads to better health and creating strong relationships.

It also opens opportunities for seniors to the various activities that go on within the community center, such as being exposed to nutritional education and whole health as a member of a wellness center, community or senior center.  Most importantly, participants learn to quiet and relax the mind through meditation, breath awareness, stage-by-stage relaxation, and other methods included in the classes.

The health benefits that Chair Yoga has brought to a lot of people with health issues have been countless, and it has continued to increase popularity not only among senior citizens and disabled people, but health professionals as well, making it among the recommended health rehabilitations for their patients.

Chair Yoga Certification

Chair yoga has increasingly become popular among people who can’t really practice the complicated body postures of traditional yoga.  These people include those with physical disabilities and senior citizens, who have become interested in doing yoga but want it the milder way.  Chair yoga is actually not a formal type of yoga, but is a gentler form of yoga which is done through sitting in a chair or the use of a chair as support while standing and doing a series of less complicated yoga poses. 

Chair yoga classes can often be found in senior care centers, disabled rehabilitation centers, and some hospitals; it is also frequently recommended by some health professionals as a helpful tool for physical therapy.  Chair yoga gives countless benefits such as oxygenating the mind and body for greater productivity, as well as toning the muscles.  However, not just anybody can teach chair yoga, one has to be a certified chair yoga instructor as it involves the essential know-how of dealing with people having health conditions and being aware of the appropriate chair yoga for them.

One such training for chair yoga certification is offered by Lakshmi Voelker, who specializes in certifying individuals with her chair yoga programs called The Sitting Mountain Series.  This chair yoga certification programs are of particular interest to some healthcare professionals including occupational therapists, physical therapists, clinical social workers, and registered nurses, as continuing education credit.

It has also been found advantageous for those people working with children, seniors, those people in wheelchairs, or anybody with physical difficulties that stop them from getting down on the floor. Lakshmi’s chair yoga certification program works with senior housing facilities, MS, Departments of Education, as well as other like organizations.   

Another center who offers chair yoga certification is the Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health; the five-day chair yoga certification program is perfect for yoga practitioners, yoga teachers, healthcare providers, and others who work with people with disabilities and seniors.  Participants of the program learn to adapt classical yoga poses to the chair, and enables would-be certified chair yoga teachers to teach one-hour chair yoga class with comprehensive information and confidence to their varied audience.  

Chair yoga certification is essential for those people, who want to teach chair yoga with complete knowledge and awareness to provide better and more effective delivery of the real benefits of chair yoga to their students, as well as become among the qualified chair yoga instructors that people recognize and respect because of their expertise.