“How to Teach Yoga to Deaf Yogis”

Because we know that our community members join hearing yoga classes all the time, and often leave frustrated and confused, it is important for us to educate non-signing yoga teachers how to create a more peaceful environment for Deaf and Hard of Hearing yoga students.

How do we do that?

1. •We offer a Visual Yoga Certification Course to assist teachers in feeling more comfortable with natural gestures as well as learn important signs like “warning” “high blood pressure” “breathe” etc.
   

2. •We offer ongoing support and guidance by connecting Deaf and sign-fluent yoga teachers with non-signing teachers and studios.
   

3. •We offer presentations and workshops on how to make simple accommodations for Deaf students.

Over the years, numerous studios have contacted us to learn how to make their classes, events and community Deaf-friendly.  We decided to answer this call by teaming with current Deaf yoga teachers in the area to educate, collaborate and facilitate the studio in opening its doors to the Deaf community.

We have a “How to Create a Deaf-friendly Studio” workshop that consists of the following topics:

1. • Basic American Sign Language (ASL) vocabulary
   

2. • Communication Techniques (conversation & classroom)
   

3. • Deaf Culture 101
   

4. • Natural Gesturing
   

5. • Networking Techniques

Tree Pose, vrkasana

1. 1.Three-hour informative presentation for your yoga instructors, staff and training course students; educating them about simple, visual techniques that require no ASL knowledge.
   
   

2. 2.Meeting between our team and your team to discuss the best way to transition your studio into a deaf-friendly environment.
   

Call us or email us to discuss further:

866.705.6762 vp  |  917.543.4707 voice

With some 28 million Deaf & Hard of Hearing in the U.S. and about 30 yoga teachers who know sign language (ASL), it is imperative that we reach out to you (non-signing teachers) and offer education programs on teaching techniques and tips.  Through the years, DeafYoga Foundation has been gathering “suggestions” from Deaf yoga students that must be integrated into mainstreamed yoga classes for our community members to feel more welcome and peaceful. Deaf yogins experience numerous challenges when trying yoga for the first time in a hearing yoga class (see side bar).

Through listening to our community members, we noticed the importance of becoming a bridge to educate non-signing yoga teachers and studios about the Deaf culture and how to make simple adjustments to create a deaf-friendly yoga environment.

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DYF  ✍ PO Box 1008  NYC, NY 10026  ❅ info@deafyoga.org