This yoga teacher training for ages 50 and up at the Heartwood Yoga Center is designed for mature yoga instructors with an eye towards teaching others in the later stage of life.
As our boomer generation ages, one is six people are seniors, making retirees the fastest growing population in America. This mature demographic is more active and health conscientious than previous generations, and receptive to the recommendation of yoga as a path to wellness by health care professionals. The need for yoga teachers with training and sensitivity to the special needs of aging bodies is growing and older teachers are often a source of great inspiration to their peers as role models.
*All participants should be 50 or older or have physical considerations that make this the best training for them and their goals as a teacher.
This course includes all the material required for world recognized Yoga Alliance certification so our graduates can teach all ages and levels, but we emphasize the special needs and considerations of mature bodies in this course, both for the maturing yoga teachers and their clients. You begin teaching what you learn to one another on day one, and by the end of the course, will have practiced and will be leading a class. Students leave ready and excited to teach yoga safely.
The 50 plus YTT program includes Chair Yoga certification on the last two days, where the focus is often on accessible yoga and gentler approaches to the physical practice for clients who have mobility limitations. Learn more about Chair Certification here.
Come prepared to have a wonderful time, get in shape (inside and out) and enjoy the inspirational and beautiful facility of Heartwood Yoga Institute. The facility is air conditioned and includes lovely, inspirational areas to make your yoga journey special, including a labyrinth, chakra meditation garden, art room, outdoor fresh air pavilion, two gorgeous state of the art studios, yoga library, elements firepit and more. Learn more about the facility here
Everyone in the 50 plus program is 50 or older or has physical limitations that make this the best program for them. As such, the group connects on a deeper level as we share life experiences and work through the material at a pace that works for all. There is lots of laughter, sharing, and acceptance for all.
We can't lie - this isn't a yoga retreat. Getting yoga certified in 16 days is hard work at any age, but we nurture you through the process, so you feel supported and cared for. We provide healthy vegetarian abundant meals, yummy snacks, and coffee and tea all day as we practice and learn. The days unfold with a mixture of yoga, lectures, films, activities and conversations to pace things well. We know a successful learning experience demands everyone keep their energies balanced and enthusiasm sustained.
March 18 - April 3, 2023 (full)
Oct. 14 - 29, 2023
2024 TBA
The immersion format of this yoga teacher training course for ages 50 and up is offered in a retreat style seminar. We cover all the yoga education elements to be competently trained as a yoga teacher, with time devoted to self-discovery and introspection as well. The anatomy component is offered online to be reviewed at your pace, and we offer online reinforcement for other portions of the training as well so students can revisit the material later to digest it over time. We begin on our first day (Saturday) at 6:00 pm with an orientation. After everyone is settled, we begin the formal training the next day, Sunday, at 8:30am. We meet only 9-5 on Chair Certification weekend the last two days of the course. Those who elect to return another time to take aerial instead of Chair Yoga may leave on Friday night. While these are long days, we pace the material to assure everyone has an inspirational, progressive experience while also covering a great deal of material in an engaging way.
Tuition: $3,895.00 Includes all materials and meal plan. Limited lodging is available on a first come first serve basis.
Payment plans are available.
Please be advised: The first date noted is arrival day, which includes orientation and a few hours of instruction, beginning at 6pm. The last date noted is departure day, and as such no instruction will take place. Students may choose to leave the night before, after class ends at 6pm.
RYS-200 for 50 plus Fall Daytime Session
(for local students)
Jan. 2 - April 30, 2024 (Plus one Friday March 1 & a Chair Yoga Weekend of your choosing)
This yoga teacher training course for ages 50 and up meets each Tuesday from 8:30-3:00. The weekly meeting helps everyone keep their practice progressing and makes it easy to digest the material. We also meet one weekend for Chair Yoga Certification with several dates to choose from and one Friday for a specialty Reiki course March 1 (alternate dates available).
To complete the 200 required hours, students must also complete an online anatomy course at their own pace.
Since there is no food plan with this training, students bring their own lunch each day.
Tuition: $3,200.00
(Payment plans are available)
Please reach us at contactheartwoodyoga@gmail.com if you cannot find an answer to your question.
Absolutely! You will be able to join Yoga Alliance and start teaching immediately, and we have plenty of opportunity to practice and get feedback before you graduate. We also send you extra guidance and information once you get home to help you get started sharing your yoga with others.
No worries about the pacing of the course. It helps that everyone is over 50 because everyone is dealing with similar issues and we all need breaks. The staff is responsive to the energy in the room. We do this program often, so we have learned the best way to unfold the material so that we get the most done in the time allotted while also assuring everyone is enjoying the process and able to retain the teachings.
There are no formal tests, although we do have competency activities that everyone must pass to be sure you can teach yoga safely and with confidence. But no one has ever failed. We consider "tests" to be testing the staff more than the student. If an attendee hasn't learned something that is important to know, it shows us we need to go over that material again and find a better way of communicating the information to assure the student is ready to call themselves a yoga teacher and will leave our program feeling confident and competent. In most cases, our 50 plus communities take the work seriously and they all study and practice together throughout the course, and they pass any competency testing with flying colors.
Worried about retaining all the information offered in a comprehensive 200 hour course? Heartwood provides all our graduates with the complete training program online which our graduates can access to revisit or reinforce all the core material you learn with us in person. This is a valuable lifetime resource to deepen your understanding and to support your education beyond your time on site with us. The online content includes introduction to Sanskrit lectures, philosophy, anatomy, posture and alignment, sequencing, modifications, chakra studies, business of yoga, and more. With lifetime access, you can always revisit the teaching to refresh, deepen or inspire your studies.
Previous graduates share their insight about the program
Don't worry about age, ability or limitations. Intention is what counts. You can be inspired by a new purpose for your next chapter of life.
Study with people you can relate to who have experience life in various stages just as you have.
Check out this video of the RYS-200 program for ages 50 plus to see images from the course in action.
There is power in the community of caring people who want to learn yoga beyond the physical.
Yoga is for all ages and all levels of ability. Don't stand in the way of your exploring this amazing practice in a deeper way..
To learn more about Yoga Alliance Standards and how Heartwood Yoga Institute covers the core competencies check out this presentation. Included are links to teaching and coursework examples to provide you with more information on the yoga teacher training process.
We go out of our way to make our students feel respected, safe, and a part of a dynamic learning collective. We believe everyone has something special to contribute to the learning environment, be it the wisdom of experience or some great questions that help us all dig deeper into a subject. Our student guidelines are defined to uphold the integrity of the school and keep the atmosphere positive, productive and progressive! Our hope is that by offering comprehensive information here, students will know up front if we will be a good fit for them and their goals and expectations. Check our guidelines to understand your educational commitment, learn about tuition payment plans and more. Check the bottom of the page to learn about financing options too.
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