Teaching Yoga for Parkinson’s: A Workshop for Yoga Teachers

Scientists and health professionals now know that a regular daily yoga practice offers long lasting wellness benefits as it helps to create greater internal and external body awareness and mind-body connections. This is especially the case for individuals experiencing neurological and movement disorders. These benefits derive from the fact that practicing yoga is first and foremost about breathing, building awareness and being present in the moment.

Research studies specifically looking at yoga for Parkinson’s indicate that practicing yoga can lead to improved balance, gait and mobility, fewer falls or falling without getting hurt, improved ability to get up from a chair or the ground, deeper breathing, better postural alignment, decreased stiffness, and increased relaxation.

In this course, students will learn ways to adapt yoga practices for individuals living with Parkinson’s disease.

Topics covered will include:

Learning breathing, physical posture/movement and meditation techniques that benefit individuals living with Parkinson’s
Reviewing anatomy/physiology of yoga poses as these relate to the way in which Parkinson’s disease impacts motor skills, posture and alignment, flexibility and ability to perform specific movements
Practicing teaching techniques and tools such as effective communication, props, music, compassion.