How the Yoga for Seniors Training Changed my Teaching and my Life

My name is Kathy Freedlund I took the Integrative Yoga for Seniors Professional Training in November of 2014. I am the director of fitness at our community park district in Batavia, Il. I have been there for 33 years.

I can say that there isn’t a day that I don’t think about what an impact your training had for so many people, myself included. I have been teaching fitness for three decades and yoga for two decades. I wasn’t sure about signing up for the course and making my way in from the Midwest. I was concerned that maybe I wouldn’t be able to apply it to my yoga teachings. Boy, was I wrong on that!

“Since I was a teen, I wanted to make a positive difference in people’s lives. Many times I asked myself if I had picked the right career. I don’t ask myself that anymore.”

The amount of people that have benefited from all I learned is astounding! After the training I went back to our facility and started a chair yoga class with about six seniors, ranging in age from 55 to 90. We now have 25. That is all the room will hold and all that I feel I can safely watch over. I hold a class two days a week. The participants have become like family to me and each other. It’s not only good for them socially, but it has improved their quality of life in so many ways.

I see improvements in balance, strength and the way they can move. In the beginning, everyone stayed in the chair. Now when I invite them to stand, everyone can stand and participate in the standing poses. Some can do floor work as well. I offer lots of modifications so everyone can do some form of the poses they are invited to do.

Since I was a teen, I wanted to make a positive difference in people’s lives. Many times I asked myself if I had picked the right career. I don’t ask myself that anymore.

Since I was a teen, I wanted to make a positive difference in people’s lives. Many times I asked myself if I had picked the right career. I don’t ask myself that anymore. I am grateful every day knowing that I can talk to women about osteoporosis, and help the man in my class with Parkinson’s or help the lady with Rheumatoid Arthritis. I am so glad I made the trek to Duke!

So, it is with deep sincerity, that I say thank you!

Best,

Kathy Freedlund

Integrative Yoga for Seniors Professional Training (formerly titled Therapeutic Yoga for Seniors) is a pioneering eight-day program for registered yoga teachers that combines the best of evidenced-based medicine with the ancient wisdom of yoga.

Apply to the Duke Integrative Yoga for Seniors Professional Training Today!