Teaching Chair Yoga to Seniors

Candace Nigh
San Antonio, Texas

Invite them to perform the poses at a more advanced level if they feel to. Let them draw on their own experience and ask them to take responsibility for themselves. As far as demonstrating a pose at a level that you can't go to this sounds a little awkward and a bit of an over-reach. You may be able to handle it one-on-one with the help of a picture or video. But I think it would be awkward during a class.

I also don't think it's necessary. I read the Gyandev interview with Swami Kriyananda and he emphasized that physical prowess is not the all-important goal. Inviting people to go to a place of Spirit and connect is the goal. Trust yourself; it sounds like you are coming from that place. The greatest gift you can give your students is to help them find that.

You are enough — you don't have to push yourself beyond your own limits in order to be a successful teacher.

Bliss Wood
Nashville, Tennessee

I continually remind myself that there will always be someone who knows more than me. Teach from your center. Usually, if there are poses that I feel uncomfortable in, I will show the variations that I can do and then I will hold the variation that is most comfortable for me. I find that this really helps beginner students, too, who may feel self-conscious about not knowing as much as other experienced students. True “advanced” students will not be worried about how you look anyway…. they will be concentrating on their own inner changes.

Also, if you feel inclined, network in your community and send those advanced students to other classes that offer more advanced yoga. In turn, you will note that these other instructors will create a network with you and start sending you clients as well.

Butchi Smith
Bluffton, South Carolina

First I make sure that new students know that I'm teaching beginning level yoga and that I teach yoga as a spiritual practice.

I remind everyone that the perfect asana is the most simple one done with complete awareness, that yoga is not a competition or looking like the pictures in the book but rather learning to go deep into stillness and to the source of your true self. Now, having said that, there are some really good books out there that will help you learn more advanced variations.

People can be very limber and physically ready to do more advanced poses but still have no idea what it is they are supposed to be getting out of it. Show them how standing in Mountain and Tree pose can truly be advanced.