How should studios and fitness centers handle students with pre-existing medical conditions? What are Yoga teachers expected to know about medical conditions?
Keeping Yoga Students With Medical Conditions Safe
Yoga movements and poses are beneficial for almost anyone, including individuals with medical problems such as arthritis, cardiovascular disease or neurological disorders. This form of exercise is useful for any age group from toddlers to senior citizens, and it is offered at day care centers, rehabilitation facilities and assisted living environments. However, the trainers who are teaching students must understand how to keep students with medical conditions safe.
One: First Aid Training
A yoga teacher should have training in first aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation techniques to assist any student who is injured or in distress. This type of education is essential for any yoga trainer who is working with students but is especially important when working with students with particular infirmities.
Two: Medical Examination
When a student wants to enroll in a yoga class, it is a good idea to request a medical document from a physician for clearance to participate in this form of exercise. A yoga trainer should keep this record in a secure filing system and make sure to understand any limitations that are suggested by a physician.
Three: Choosing Poses and Movements
If a student has a limitation on performing a certain type of movement or pose, then offer an alternate exercise. For instance, if a student is not permitted to use any downward poses that involve increasing the blood flow to the neck and head, then a student can use this time to practice a balancing pose instead.
Four: Soft Surfaces
Many yoga positions require reclining on the floor, making it difficult for a student with arthritis or knee problems to participate. Offering soft surfaces for yoga can make it easier for students with joint difficulties to enjoy certain types of poses. Make sure to provide thick and soft floor mats and rugs for these students.
Five: Chair Yoga
When there are students in a class who must use a walker or wheelchair, it is still possible for them to participate in many yoga movements. A student can sit in a chair or remain in a wheelchair to practice deep-breathing exercises or arm and neck movements.
