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Yoga in general can be a challenging, rewarding career path. Add in the option to teach yoga for older people into the mix and you're set up for an exciting and way to change your students lives for the better. Still, teaching yoga to older people is filled with unique challenges and considerations–this article highlights what every yoga instructor should know.
Some teachers look forward to having older people in class, while others almost dread it. If you fall into the latter category, don't worry. It doesn't always have to be that way.
It can seem daunting to provide a class suitable for various ages and abilities, but it is not impossible. With effort and practice, you may come to love it, just as I have. I have a soft spot for my senior yogis.
For years, I have taught a class almost exclusively for seniors, and it is undoubtedly my favorite class.
Why? Because their progress is so easily visible, and our efforts together truly affect their lives every day. When you teach older people, you impact their lives on and off the mat.
KEY TAKEAWAYS:
- Yoga offers significant benefits for seniors, including improved mobility, balance, posture, cognitive function, respiratory function, and opportunities for socialization.
- Different yoga styles, such as Iyengar, Hatha, Slow Flow, Vinyasa, Ashtanga, Yin, and Restorative, can be adapted to meet the varying needs and abilities of seniors.
- Chair yoga is a popular and accessible option for seniors with mobility limitations, allowing them to practice yoga safely.
- Teachers should avoid underestimating seniors’ abilities, while ensuring they are familiar with common health conditions like arthritis, diabetes, and osteoporosis to provide appropriate modifications.
- Effective verbal and visual cues, along with awareness of hearing or mobility challenges, help create a supportive environment for seniors.
- Making yoga spaces and classes welcoming and safe for seniors fosters inclusion, creativity, and cross-generational connection.
- Marketing should highlight seniors participating in yoga, encouraging them to join classes, and offering accessible information to foster community participation.
Yoga For Older People: What to Know
Benefits Of Yoga For Older People
One might argue that seniors benefit more from yoga than nearly any other age group, or at least that the benefits are often more noticeable. Some of the best reasons for practicing yoga as a senior include:
- Increased Mobility: Yoga stretches joints and moves them through their full range of motion. It encourages movement without the pressure that comes with many other physical activities. Because many poses are considered weight-bearing exercises, yoga can help strengthen the bones as well.
- Better Balance and Posture: Yoga improves core strength, which is key for balance and posture. Using drishti or a point of focus helps them train their eyes to help them balance in everyday activities.
- Improved Cognitive Function and Memory: The repetition that comes from sequences aids in memory. New poses and directions keep seniors constantly learning, which keeps their brains alert and active.
- Socialization: The top reason for senior depression and mental health concerns comes from isolation and loneliness. When seniors can attend classes, especially with other seniors, it provides the opportunity for them to improve their mental health as well as physical health. Online classes also provide these benefits for seniors who are unable to leave their homes.
- Improved Respiratory Function: As we age, our lung function decreases due to posture, muscle atrophy, and other health challenges. Yoga encourages good posture and builds core and torso strength that can help improve lung function. Breathwork practices help strengthen the lungs. These practices are also effective at converting ineffective breathing patterns into deeper, more fulfilling breaths.
The Type Of Yoga Best For Older People
Almost all types of yoga have the potential to help seniors gain strength and mobility if done safely.
If a senior is just getting active or is new to yoga, Iyengar and Hatha yoga are a great place to start. Iyengar emphasizes proper form and alignment, helping seniors learn how a pose feels in a safe manner. Hatha provides gentle movement without the strenuous poses found in some Vinyasa or Power yoga classes.
For seniors who are already active or are looking to gain both muscular and aerobic strength and endurance, look to Slow Flow or Vinyasa. These styles are in many ways variations of each other, and help seniors focus on strength, endurance, and balance.
For seniors looking for a more disciplined and athletic approach that also exercises their working memory, Ashtanga may be a good option. It presents seniors with a challenging class, but one that becomes easier to follow with regular practice, making it an excellent tool for keeping the brain active.
For seniors looking to ease pain or tension, Yin and Restorative types of yoga are a great fit. Yin provides a deeper stretch that can be beneficial for connective tissue that tightens as one ages. Restorative aids seniors in relaxing, and letting go of stress, and can improve the quality of their sleep.
Chair yoga has also become highly popular among seniors in the last several years. You can modify existing classes in almost all of these styles to work with a chair or create entirely new ones that revolve around poses that can be done with a chair. Learning to modify yoga for seniors will take you from dread to excitement when they walk into the room.
How To Modify Yoga For Older People
Whether or not you regularly have seniors attending your classes, you should always be prepared for them to attend.
While it may seem nice to have everyone in your class be of similar abilities, it discourages people of different ages and abilities from attending. It also can stunt your growth as a teacher because you’re not forced to think outside the box and be creative in your modifications and teaching.
Try out the following tips to make your yoga classes senior-friendly:
- Don’t Underestimate Their Abilities: This is one of the most common mistakes I see in fitness professionals today. We are so afraid of “breaking” people, we are blind to what they really can do. Seniors are a case in point. I’ve seen 83-year-olds hold Warrior III better than some teachers I know. Encourage them to push themselves and try new things. Many seniors are nervous about getting injured, but many of those fears and risks can be assuaged by providing them with a safe environment. Encourage the use of props like chairs and walls for extra support, then let them shine.
- Learn About Common Senior Health Concerns: You can’t teach what you don’t know. One of the best ways to gain confidence in teaching seniors is by learning what health challenges seniors struggle with and how to modify yoga around them. Some of these include arthritis, diabetes, heart conditions, osteoporosis, and respiratory conditions. Study these conditions and then talk to people who have them. Find out what works for them and what doesn’t, then modify your classes accordingly.
- Adjust For Mobility Limitations: Many seniors are nervous about trying yoga for the same reasons most other people are. They assume that they’re not flexible enough. Aging can cause a loss of mobility, which often brings a loss of confidence with it. Provide variations and encourage your students of all ages to take them if they feel good. Help them understand the difference between discomfort and pain. For ideas on poses and variations for seniors, do research on how you can monitor and plan for any mobility challenges.
- Use Effective Cues: When you teach, use both visual and verbal cues. Keep them simple and concise, giving students time to move their bodies. Some seniors may move more slowly to stay balanced, so provide extra time in between poses for students to transition. Also, be aware of the level of your voice. For seniors with hearing impediments, your regular teaching voice may be too quiet. Speak up and speak clearly for better understanding among all students. Avoid discouraging or ageist language in your classes and marketing.
How To Start Teaching Yoga For Older People
With some background and direction on yoga for seniors, I hope you feel at least a tinge of excitement the next time a older person attends one of your classes.
Our world population as a whole is aging, and by 2030, the World Health Organization estimates that 1 in 6 people will be over the age of 60.
Seniors now, more than ever, are getting healthy and staying active further into their later years. Yoga has the potential to play a significant role in keeping our seniors healthy and independent. Now is the time to start making your current classes more inviting to seniors or start senior-focused yoga classes.
The first step is to ensure your classes and spaces are safe, effective, and enjoyable for all ages. Not only will it bring more people into your class, but it will encourage creativity on your part and connection among students of different generations.
Keep your space inviting and hazard-free. Know how to modify poses and classes for people of all abilities. Maintain liability insurance to protect yourself and your business in the event of an accident or injury.
This is important for any demographic, especially when teaching seniors. The National Safety Council reports that 1 in 4 seniors fall each year, so liability coverage is a must-have to give you and your students peace of mind.
Next, craft compelling marketing that encourages seniors to be a part of the yoga community. Include pictures of seniors doing yoga in your advertising.
Make your websites and scheduling platforms accessible and easy to interact with. Be prepared to answer questions about what accommodations your facility has for seniors.
If you are in the position to do so, consider starting senior yoga classes. These classes are popular at senior centers, adult living communities, libraries, and community centers.
There is also a growing demand for senior classes at gyms and studios. Consider holding workshops, meet-and-greets, or other special events to help draw seniors into your facility.
They’ll get to know you, learn about classes, and see that this is something they can do. Often, all that’s needed is the invitation.
A Few Final Thoughts
If there is only one thing you take from this article, let it be encouragement. Encourage the seniors in your community to come and participate. Let them know that yoga is for them, that it’s for everybody.
It truly has the capacity to make their older years mobile, independent, and enjoyable.
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