Chair Yoga: Designing and Leading Gentle Movement Classes. A 2-day workshop for Yoga Teachers, Senior Caregivers, Corporate and Organizational Facilitators. March 28 & 29 2026
Chair Yoga - Designing and Leading Gentle Movement Classes: Workshop for Yoga Teachers, Senior Caregivers, Corporate and Organizational Facilitators. This training starts with a 2-day immersive workshop on March 28 and 29 from 9:30am - 4:30pm, with light lunch included, at the beWell Arts Studio, 618 Washington Street, Cumberland, Maryland. 21502. There are a few online slots for those who cannot attend in person. The training continues after the 2-day immersive experience, at each participants own pace, with a practicum that includes the using what has been learned along with the online workbook to design and present 3 chair yoga classes at a community location of the participants choosing, followed by 2 in-person or online meetings - 1 with the peer-group and 1 with the instructor. After the successful conclusion of all assignments, a certificate of certification will be issued. YA CEU's may also be earned..
This class is designed to empower yoga teachers, senior caregivers, corporate and organizational facilitators with the knowledge, skills, and confidence needed to teach safe and effective chair yoga classes. Chair Yoga is a good choice for anyone who is in a busy environment and needs a quick reset during the work day, or someone who cannot easily get down on or up from a mat on the floor. This workshop will focus on the benefits of chair yoga, including enhancing focus, improving mobility, balance, flexibility, and even reducing arthritic pain. Additionally, participants will learn how to incorporate breathing techniques that help to enhance mental clarity and reduce anxiety. The workshop will also cover how chair yoga can support a healthy lifestyle by encouraging participants to explore their options for movement and mindful rest while learning to understand and honor their body’s limitations. Recommended by many doctors and health care professionals, the practice of gentle yoga movements, when practiced regularly, can make a difference. The fact is that participants just feel better after a chair yoga session!
Course Outline of Content to be Covered:
(a digital manual is included for course support and future reference.)
I. Introduction:
A. Review the Benefits of Chair Yoga - maintaining balance, flexibility, range of motion, increased mental clarity, reduced anxiety, reduced arthritis pain.
B. Understanding the unique needs of the target population - emphasizing that chair yoga is a gentle, accessible practice that can be modified to suit nearly any body regardless of health issues or limitations.
II. Basic Anatomy and Physiology:
A. Age-related changes in musculoskeletal, cardiovascular, and nervous systems.
B. Common health concerns and contraindications.
C. Addressing cognitive decline, hearing, and vision impairments.
D. Supporting participants with chronic conditions or disabilities.
E. Importance of balance, flexibility, and strength training.
III. Foundational Chair Yoga Principles:
A. Chair yoga basics - types of chairs, props, and equipment.
B. Creating a safe and supportive environment.
C. Emphasizing breath awareness, mindfulness, and relaxation.
IV. Hands-On Practice: Key Chair Yoga Poses -
Modifying traditional yoga poses for chair yoga.
A. Warm-up and breathwork.
B. Focus on the spine for flexibility.
C. Poses for upper body: neck, shoulders, and arms.
D. Poses for lower body: hips, legs, and feet.
E. Poses for balance, stability, and strength.
F. Relaxation and guided meditation.
G. Breakdown of poses, modifications, and contraindications.
V. Teaching Techniques and Strategies:
A. Adapting and sequencing chair yoga classes for different audiences and levels of ability. Exploring options for movement and rest while honoring the body’s limitations.
B. Effective cueing and hands-on adjustments. Understanding the importance of safe and accessible modifications for poses and movements.
C. Communication and rapport-building with students.
D. Cultivating patience, empathy, and compassion in teaching.
E. Encouraging inclusivity and a non-competitive atmosphere.
F. Integrating chair yoga into existing classes or creating specialized programs.
Chair Yoga Workshop:
Duration: 12 hours / 2 Days.
6 hours each day – 9:30 AM to 4:30 PM
Morning lecture, theory, pose breakdown w/variations, Q+A, discussion.
Presenter chair yoga / meditation session before community lunch.
Afternoon practice, sequencing, variations, and student-led sessions.
Continuing Education - Overall written review of onsite class (2 hours), via online workbook review-study (4 hours), 3 chair yoga session planning and presentations (6 hours), 1 online meeting with peer-group (2 hours), 1 final in-person or online individual meeting with instructor (2 hours with review prep).
Chair Yoga Teacher Training Certification: 30 Yoga Alliance CEUs require the design, teaching, and documentation of 3 chair yoga classes to be scheduled in addition to the selected workshop. When successfully completed, a frame-able certificate will be awarded to document the recipient's qualifications to lead individual and group chair yoga classes.
The immersive workshop will be held at the beWellnessArts Studios, 616-618 Washington Street, Cumberland, Maryland. 21502. While in-person training is recommended, you may opt to attend online. The Workshop Course Fee of $325 includes two days of onsite training, follow up meeting to discuss and verify the required 3 community presentations, and a digital Chair Yoga manual detailing the training, complete with suggested class plans and marketing information. A complimentary community lunch is served both days for those attending the immersive training in person. .
Note that because of our need to cover costs regarding these workshops, that we have a no refund policy. However, if you are unable to attend after booking you may, with notification, transfer the payment to attend another event, where space is available, or transfer to another person.
The scheduled Chair Yoga Instructor for these workshops is:
Christina Collins-Smith, MLA, E-RYT 500, YACEP, LMT, CMMP
With a focus on aging gracefully, Christina has spent the last two decades offering community art programs, including yoga – functional yoga flow, and chair yoga, working in her own studio and with the regional hospital, college, art museum, libraries, corporations, organizations, senior centers and retirement communities to create partnerships and opportunities for achieving maximum wellness and enjoyment of life through mindful movement that is synced with breath and intention. Christina has taught art and art history at the undergraduate level for over 20 years at Carroll Community College, and has practiced yoga for most of her adult life, earning her E-RYT 500 in early 2023.
Christina is also a licensed massage therapist and certified medical massage practitioner, a certified mind-body medicine coach, health and wellness coach, and YogaMedCo yoga coach. She is the Director at beWellnessArts, LLC, a health and wellness coach with UPMC Western Maryland’s Community Wellness Department, a contributor to the UPMC Real Well quarterly newsletter, the designer and facilitator of the “Yoga 4 Wellness” accredited college course and manual, currently taught at Allegany College of Maryland. She is the past President and Wellness Arts Director at the Gilchrist Museum of the Arts, and author of “let me be a blessing” to be released in Winter 2026.
In this course, Christina welcomes this opportunity to work with community facilitators, corporate leaders, yogis, and caregivers who seek to offer stress relieving, energizing, regenerative wellness to those who will benefit greatly from regular movement through chair yoga classes.
Christina is proud to be a Yoga Alliance Member and Education Provider. She can be contacted at [email protected] / website: beWellArts.com