SilverSneakers Yoga Instructor Course “YogaStretch – Stress Reduction” — Part One — Intro & Differences

SilverSneakers Yoga Instructor Course “YogaStretch – Stress Reduction” – Part One :

Intro & Differences

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SilverSneakers Yoga Instructor Course “YogaStretch – Stress Reduction” – Part One :

Intro & Differences

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silversneakers yoga instructor course “yogastretch – stress reduction” — Part Two, Similarities & Conclusions

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INTRO

silversneakers introductory basic information

silversneakers is a national organization offering balanced fitness and wellness classes for older adults, typically 65 or older

instructor classes [1] from silversneakers, as per our experience, are information-dense, practical orientated, and applicable for any adult with either an illness or condition needing modifications [2]

classes are also all arc and flow gracefully with introductions, warm-ups, workout work, cool downs, and final relaxations

the silversneakers yoga classes are no exception

silversneakers yoga classes

three complete separate yoga classes are offered by silversneakers

this review covers only the one yoga instructor class sheila and i have attended

originally, the three classes were notated as 1, 2, and 3 – apparently however, people assumed the classes were not only a sequence, but had to be taken one after the other

sounds reasonable to me 😉

to make the yoga classes more approachable for instructors, the numerical notations for the yoga classes were removed, and the classes renamed

all three yoga classes now offered, are prefixed with the name “YogaStretch” –

the first yoga class has no further notation, but the second and third classes, formerly #’s 2 & 3, are now known as, “Restorative Breathing” and “Stress Reduction”

the instructor class i will review, and that sheila and i attended, was the latter, “YogaStretch – Stress Reduction”

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DIFFERENCES FROM OTHER YOGA CLASSES

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1) primarily, this style yoga class is set to be done with chairs, either sitting, or available as support in standing poses

2) secondarily, there are’s no floor or mat work

3) typically, the distinction is seen as that these yoga classes are for seniors, specifically people age 65+

this unintentionally masks the fact that most everything taught, targeted to concerns usually associated with the elderly, is applicable to any adult of any age with similar problems: high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, arthritis, large size, de-conditioned, or recovering from or adapting to an injury or surgery

ironically, this focus on sensitivity for the need for possible modifications, which does set silversneakers yoga classes from most other yoga classes [3] , is then in turn a negative on classes that are for so-called normal participants, in the sense that there is an insensitivity to the individual as an individual

the irony is that many yoga courses and people pride themselves (itself another irony) on being “different” and “more” than sweaty gym or aerobic fitness classes

this is not to say there are no, or few (just too few) yoga instructors or studios sensitive to the individual, but more importantly, it is the responsibility of the participant to verify or seek this sensitivity

4) silversneakers has a required class format, of which a few yoga schools do also

one of the required class format components, is a seated fitness style warm-up to limber and warm the larger muscle groups first

the warmup includes, among many items, movements such as shoulder rolls, leg lifts, rag doll arm, knee massage, and wrist rotations

though i’ve seen or experienced what was called a warmup period in yoga classes, predominately they were full sun salutations that are, i believe, unsuitable for most people who are either de-conditioned, working from a stiff joint orientation, or just plain been sitting in a car or subway for an hour or so, stiff and still when they enter class

a meditative breathing warm up helps, but does not get to the range of muscle limbering that a simple fitness warmup will, especially for the target population for these classes (please see # 3 above)

5) the use of a small inflated ball for dexterity and balance work

i can’t truthfully say i’ve seen ball work in any yoga class i’ve been to, though the prop concept isn’t too far off

yet, this is more truly a fitness segment, emphasizing agility, balancing, and dexterity

yes, this could be done with various typical asanas, but these fit more easily into the chair or standing-chair-assisted format, and, i gotta tell you, are darn right fun! 😉

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Part Two – Similarites and Conclusions

part two goes deeply into the similarities between a silversneakers yoga class and other yoga style classes

some differences may seem obvious, but many may surprise you 😉

SilverSneakers Yoga Instructor Course “YogaStretch – Stress Reduction” —           Part Two, Similarities & Conclusions

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namaste – con dios – god be with you

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footnotes

[1] my wife sheila and i had taken two prior silversneakers classes, MSROM (muscular strength and range of movmeent) and CardioCircuit

plus we are both AFAA group fitness certified instructors, and Zumba licensed for Zumba and Zumba Gold (for seniors and de-conditioned adults)

this was sheila’s first yoga instructor class, and i have my 200 hour yoga teacher certification, with training under lex gillan

[2] modification work taught to instructors includes, among many aspects, adjusting for cancer, high blood pressure, arthritis, large participants, and stress

these considerations are also equally valuable for adults under 65 with these ailments, and for de-conditioned adults

the guidelines match well with those my wife and i learned in our studies with AFAA

[3] other yoga classes similar to those of silversneakers, that i am familiar with, are those from stronger seniors from anne pringle burnell

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