Maureen: Would like to discuss in more details my desires to lead a class in yoga. I live in a small community where there are no classes. I love practicing but really the structure of classes and other people around me practicing. I thought I would try and lead a chair yoga class but cannot find the confidence to start without more training. Can you advise me please. I presently have lots of books but none on chair yoga.
Susan: Thank you for your interest in teaching chair yoga! Actually, that’s how I got started too…teaching my mother and some of her friends who couldn’t get up and down off the floor.
I think there are more resources for seated yoga now than when I started teaching, and I would refer you to my own DVD, “Sitting Fit Anytime”. It would be a good start for you to see how to modify poses for seated positions. There are also sections on breathing, guided meditation and relaxation.
My book, Yoga for the Young at Heart, has a sort of “primer” at the beginning…an introduction to yoga, poses described in detail and explains the benefits of the poses. There is also a section on “Sitting Fit” in the book.
Then, I have an audiotape called “Sitting Fit, Yoga Bits” that can give you some more ideas on what to teach.
I would suggest that you take a teacher training of some sort, if you can. It will give you the foundation you’ll need to feel more confident and guidelines on how to keep your students from getting hurt. I must add, that you’ll probably never feel like you’re ready to teach. The only way to do it is to just jump in and start. The confidence comes with actually teaching.
If you want to let me know where you live, I might be able to recommend a teacher training for you, but you may have to travel a bit to do weekend workshops with certified teachers. I think the styles of yoga for the best training are Kripalu, Anusara and White Lotus. You can Google them on the Internet and see what looks like it appeals to you.
Please let me know if I can be of more help…and blessings on your yoga path!