Level 3 yoga for older adults

Become an in-demand yoga teacher who is able to meet the specific needs of older participants by completing this Level 3 Award in Adapting Yoga for Older Adults course. Combining a fully regulated YMCA qualification with our bespoke online yoga for older adults’ content, you’ll develop a comprehensive understanding of how you can tailor your classes to be safer and more inclusive for the ageing population.

The latest figures show that life expectancy continues to rise and could in fact reach the late 80s by 2030. People are not just living longer, but they are also staying active and looking after themselves. Because of this, the demand for exercise professionals able to work with the older adults special population continues to increase.

Our level 3 yoga for older adults has been specially designed to enable yoga teachers to safely plan and deliver classes that cater to the specific needs of the older population. It provides a fantastic CPD opportunity for those currently teaching, or any new professionals wishing to widen their portfolio of skills.

If you aren’t currently teaching yoga but you’re interested in getting qualified, you can of course combine this programme with one of our yoga teacher training courses and study both programmes alongside each other. Feel free to get in touch with our careers advisors today if you need information on how you can make this happen.

• Qualification vs. workshop

  In the spirit of flexibility, and to ensure that as many yoga professionals as possible are eligible to enrol on this programme, we have two different pathways available with this course; regulated qualification and an online workshop.
  
  The regulated qualification leads to a full Ofqual approved qualification that is certificated by YMCA Awards and fully endorsed by CIMSPA. This pathway combines the Level 3 Award for Adapting Exercise for Older Adults with the Level 3 Adapting Yoga for Older Adults to provide yoga professionals with a compressive understanding of how to tailor yoga to meet the diverse and complex needs of an aging population. This route requires students to possess a regulated fitness industry qualification, as is commonplace in the fitness industry.
  
  The online workshop has been designed to meet the needs of more holistic yoga teachers that hold non-regulated qualifications, like the Yoga Alliance Professionals Registered Yoga teacher Programme (RYT) for example. The online workshop is also suited to those who love yoga and want to get a better understanding how to modify their own practice for this population.

• Entry requirements

  This course has been specifically designed for qualified yoga teachers looking to specialise in adapting their yoga sessions to better meet the needs of older clients.
  
  However, if you don't hold a Level 3 yoga qualification but you are a qualified fitness instructor at level 2 or above, then will still be eligible to enrol because the YMCA qualification part of this programme (Level 3 Award in Adapting Exercise for Older Adults) only requires a level 2 fitness instructor qualification.
  
  The CPD component of this programme focuses exclusively on yoga and so if you have limited knowledge of this style of exercise, then you may be at a disadvantage.
  
  Please note: If you don't already hold a regulated yoga teacher training qualification, or you haven't got at least a Level 2 Certificate in Fitness Instruction, then you should select the workshop option above when booking.

• Accreditations

  This Level 3 Award in Adapting Yoga for Older Adults is certificated by YMCA Awards and is a fully regulated Ofqual qualification. It's also endorsed by CIMSPA.
  
  The Adapting Yoga for Older Adults online workshop has been developed by our expert team of yoga professionals to meet an ever-increasing need for skilled yoga teachers capable of supporting the older clients. On completion of this, you'll receive a YMCA Awards endorsed and HFE certificate.

• Learning materials

  To support you in achieving the YMCA Awards qualification, you'll receive a comprehensive training manual, both print and digital copies, a detailed study guide, and a series on online practice assessments for you to test your knowledge along the way.
  
  To support the yoga for older adults workshop, you'll have access to interactive online learning content that will provide more detailed and specific information on asana postures and pranayama breathing practices that are safe and effective, and those that are not and why. There are also a wide-range of practical videos demonstrating how you can modify asana and pranayama for this population.

• Career and progression

  Once you've completed this programme, you'll have the knowledge and skills, not to mention the qualification, to go out into the active leisure sector teaching yoga to older participants with absolute confidence that what you are teaching is safe, effective, and having a positive impact on your clients.
  
  If you are still hungry for more knowledge and qualifications, you could always consider taking our Level 3 Yoga for Pre and Postnatal Clients, or our Level 4 yoga teacher training course.