Date: April 17, 2026
Hours: 10am – 5pm
Location: Old Town Hall Auditorium, Almonte
Cost: $185.00 (payable by April 10)
Register: email alisontait5@gmail.com
How We Balance
We all need balance in our lives. Literally. But having good balance is more complex than you may realize. It involves the integration of various sensory and motor systems, including: vision (to perceive direction and motion), the vestibular system in the inner ear (which monitors motion and provides orientation clues ie. which way is up and which way is down) and, “proprioception” (the ability to sense where your body is in space). To stay grounded and steady, you also need good muscle strength, flexibility and reaction time.
If any of these systems are not functioning properly, you can feel unsteady and/or lose your balance while just walking, going downstairs or standing up from a chair. In fact, according to several research studies, about one in three people over age 65 fall at least once a year – and 10 to 15 percent of these falls result in serious injury.
Who should attend Better Balance Workshop?
This unique Better Balance Workshop will provide practical tools, training and advice on how to teach and/or assist those who need help in improving their balance. In addition, the workshop will provide a solid foundation for anyone who feels they need to improve balance. Specifically:
– Yoga instructors
– Community centre instructors working with seniors
– Physiotherapists /Rehabilitation instructors
– Retirement home PSWs
– Individuals who want to improve their balance
Although the workshop is primarily focused on seniors and the elderly, many of the principles apply to those who have suffered an injury or a have a condition that has compromised their balance.
As a teacher, you do not have to have perfect balance to teach a balance class – modifications and props can be used to assist in the postures/balance exercises.
Better Balance Workshop Overview
- Benefits of better balance
- How we balance
- Balance and ageing
- Building strength and stability for balance
- Foundational postures for teaching a safe, beginner balance class
- Progression to more dynamic balance postures
- Sequencing a Balance Class
Your Training Includes:
- A comprehensive Better Balance Workbook
- Illustrated balance exercises and sequences
- A Better Balance Certificate of Completion
Your teacher – Alison Tait
Alison Tait is a certified Yoga Alliance teacher (ERYT-500) with over 15 years of yoga teaching experience. In addition to teaching gentle yoga and chair yoga, Alison has developed a unique approach to teaching seniors and others how to improve their balance. Her interest in teaching balance classes began two major concussions greatly affected her stability and ability to balance. Alison teaches yoga and balance classes regularly at Beyond Yoga Wellness Studio in Kanata and in her hometown of Almonte. She also leads a Chair Yoga Teacher training certification program for yoga teachers and healthcare professionals, and, provides private yoga and balance classes upon request.
