Yoga for Individuals with Carers (Term 2 2024)

What it is all about?

Yoga has been known to have numerous benefits for the body and mind. For individuals with carers, it can be especially helpful in reducing stress and anxiety, improving strength, flexibility and balance, and promoting a sense of calm and relaxation.

With Chitra's guidance, the classes are tailored to the needs and abilities of each individual, ensuring that everyone can participate at their own pace and level. In addition to the physical benefits, the classes also provide a supportive and inclusive community. Many individuals with carers may feel isolated or disconnected from others, but in these classes, they can connect with others who share similar experiences. It's a safe space where everyone is welcome and encouraged to participate and connect with one another.

Yoga for Individuals with Carers is designed for those who require a carer to support their daily needs. Carers are defined as those that provide care and support to a family member or a friend, or a support worker. Carers attend for free and either assist their family member, friend or client, or if able, participate in the class themselves.

What will we cover?

Classes will include instruction and practice in:

• Yoga postures to encourage the body through its full range of natural movement, build flexibility and strength and help to balance and bring good health to all our bodily systems.
• Guided deep relaxation to invite body and mind to profoundly relax, recharge and heal.
• Yoga breathing and meditation techniques to help us energize, cleanse and harmonize all levels of our being and bring peace and calm to the mind.

Chitra will offer a wide range of options for how to practice each technique, including chair versions if getting up and down from the floor is tricky, encouraging everyone to be in the moment, to honour their own bodies and have fun!

Note: Please confirm with your doctor that it is safe to attend a gentle yoga class before enrolling.

Who will be teaching?

Chitra Stern has been teaching Yoga since 1989, in Australia, India and the USA. She has trained with the Gita School of Yoga in Melbourne and with Integral Yoga in the USA, and is certified to teach Beginners, Intermediate, Advanced and Pre-natal/post partum Integral Yoga Hatha classes. She has also completed Integral Yoga Stress Management Teacher Training and has trained with Amy Weintraub, completing level 1 and 2 Yoga for Depression teacher trainings. Chitra is also a Level 1 Integral Yoga teacher trainer. Her focus in Yoga is on opening to our natural inner peace, freedom and joy by letting go of competition, accepting and enjoying ourselves as we are, being present in the moment and having fun!

Term 2 2024 Information

Yoga for Individuals with Carers will run for 10 weeks, commencing Monday 15 April 2024 until Monday 24 June 2024 (there is no class on Monday 10 June due to the King's birthday public holiday). The cost for the 10 week course is $150.

If you wish to book for a single class, rather than the full term, the cost is $20 per class. Single class bookings are only possible once the term has started.

Classes run between 12.30pm - 1.30pm on Mondays.

When registering, please register under the individual's name and add the carer's name in the comments box. Carers attend for free and either assist their family member, friend or client, or participate in the class themselves.

Classes are suited to all levels of experience with Yoga and are tailored to suit varying needs and abilities. Sessions include Yoga asana (postures), Yoga nidra (guided deep relaxation), pranayama (breathing practices) and meditation, ending with peace chants where we can offer the benefits of our practice out into the world.

Classes will be held in person at the Woodend Neighbourhood House (maximum of 6 participants with 6 carers) and online via zoom. Optional attendance at additional Hatha Yoga classes via zoom is included at no additional charge – details and links to all zoom classes will be provided with your booking

Attending face-to-face classes: Please aim to arrive a few minutes early so you can settle in and relax.

To help keep our practice safe, each person should bring their own Yoga mat, blanket and cushion/bolster and any other props they have and like to use. If you do not have a Yoga mat, bring a blanket and large towel.