Accessible Yoga Conference, St. Louis 2019

When we use a phrase like “Yoga for Seniors,” what do we mean? Who are we referring to? Most often we think of students in their sixties or seventies who are ambulatory, independent, and adjusting their practice to accommodate their changing bodies and brains. But what about students in later stages of the aging process? Or students with dementia? What techniques and practices would be beneficial for them? In this workshop we will explore ways to teach safe and effective group classes in Assisted Living, Skilled Nursing, and Memory Care spaces.

Senior care facilities can be challenging environments to navigate and many times they are not ideal for yoga classes. Finding a dedicated yoga space is often difficult and usually not feasible. The staff is often carrying one type of energy and the residents another. Many residents are heavily medicated and there is an enormous amount of pain, illness, and loss being experienced and processed. Once in class, students display a diverse range of cognitive and physical disabilities. These challenges notwithstanding, students with advanced aging can practice yoga and feel into more of themselves. Isn’t that what we are after in our practice—to experience connection? We can make yoga accessible to this population by being creative and simplifying yoga to the core principles that connect us to our shared humanity.