Stretching and strengthening
An article under “Menschenings” by social columnist Alex Kliner appeared in the December 18 Hanukkah issue of the Jewish Independent of Greater Vancouver. The following is an excerpt from the article, entitled “A Therapeutic Triple Threat: Annette Wertman Teaches Chair and Shabbat Yoga at the JCC”:
Adding an interest in the older adult population to her other interests, these days Annette is a registered music therapist and certified yoga instructor completing her requirements for a master’s degree in gerontology at Simon Fraser University.
As an instructor in chair yoga—where the chair replaces the mat—Annette gives private and group sessions. At the Jewish Community Centre of Greater Vancouver, Annette has developed a specialized Shabbat Yoga program, held on Friday mornings. She says that “chair yoga encourages a sense of well-being and confidence, especially in older adults and people with physical limitations, restrictions, or health issues. In a supportive group atmosphere, we focus on balance, muscle strength, flexibility, concentration, relaxation, and proper breathing.”
