Blind Yoga

by Rebecca White on November 4, 2010

Picture of a woman doing yogaThis past year, I took my first yoga class and have been hooked ever since.  There’s really nothing quite like it – it’s relaxing and a great workout.

Yoga postures are difficult enough with two good eyes.  My instructor always says to us, “For more heat, try this with your eyes closed”.  Most often, I end up losing my balance with my eyes shut, which gives me an enormous appreciation for people who study yoga that are visually impaired or blind.

There’s a lot of information out there for someone who is visually impaired and wants to learn yoga.  There’s even a yoga mat designed specifically for the visually impaired – it has raised and depressed areas that are strategically placed so that you can feel where your hands, feet and head should be.

Gretchen Hein, a certified yoga teacher, paired up with Marty Klein, a blind author and yoga student, to create a CD series entitled “Beginning Yoga for the Blind and Visually Impaired”.  In this set, they present 24 basic yoga poses in a clear, step-by-step manner, specially designed for those with little or no sight.  You can even listen to an example – hear them describe the Tree Pose.  Since Marty is blind, they can offer invaluable insights for the blind and visually impaired from the blind perspective.  They also provide tips for yoga teachers on how to instruct their blind and visually impaired students.

Check out the one hour podcast that aired on American Council of the Blind Radio.  This will hopefully answer any questions you may have about getting started with yoga.  There’s even more information on their website at blindyoga.net.

I highly recommend looking into a yoga studio near you that has experience working with the visually impaired, or that is open to learning more about how they can alter their teaching style to work for you.  Namaste!

Tagged as: Rebecca White

  • Tom Coburn

    This is cool Becca, I may want to look into this.
    Turning 40 this year, with my continual weight gain (I’ve gained 100 lbs in the last year)
    I have been thinking about some kind of exercise. I used to run all the time when I was a kid, but being legally blind running was something I thought i had to give up. Being single now, continual weight gain has been concerning me a great deal. I’m sure girls don’t care what I look like, but I don’t like the beer belly, and it makes my stomach and chest hurt, so I started to think, well I gotta do something. My first thought was I always wanted to learn karate, but can a blind person learn karate? I just don’t know, so reading this, I’m thinking, well maybe this is something I can do to burn off some calories. I can walk for miles not feeling like its doing anything for me, and a blind person can’t run I don’t think, unless there’s a cane technique I don’t know about. haha. so this may be a good alternative?

  • http://www.aisquared.com Becca Proskin

    Hey Tom,

    Yoga is a great way to stay in shape and improve your overall sense of balance, too!

    I did a quick Google search on karate for the visually impaired and there’s a TON of information about it. Just a few examples – in NYC, there’s a Seido Karate Program for the Blind and Visually Impaired. You can learn more about it here: http://bit.ly/c07y38.

    There was a story that I had run in the “in the news” section of ZoomNews a few issues ago: Sensei Devin Fernandez is visually impaired and he founded Third Eye Insight. Through this program, he not only teaches martial arts but also yoga and meditation classes! You can learn more about that here: http://bit.ly/bg75OV.

    You should do a search and find what’s out there in your area – you might be surprised at the results!

    Becca

  • Andrea

    I have been taking yoga for a few years and am also visually impared. Since it is so bennificial, I would hope that it would be accessable to everyone. Most yoga studios are pretty expensive and that may be a barrier for some people. There are classes at community centres and YMCA’s that are more affordable.
    It is interesting how once you are put into a pose, your body will remember it with only a few verbal cues. For some people that are visually impared, this is how they could learn the poses.

  • touchyoga

    Thanks for the mention Rebecca! At Rousettus, we also have two descriptive DVDs that make learning yoga fun and easy.

  • http://www.rousettus.com touchyoga

    Andrea, so wonderful you are taking yoga. My dream is that VIYM (Visually Impaired Yoga Mat) does make yoga accessible to all. The descriptive yoga dvds are designed for VIYM referencing the tactile features on the mat – fun to do at home. I have been receiving favorable feedback that it is fun, easy, and making a difference in the lives of those blind and visually impaired.

  • http://www.aisquared.com Becca Proskin

    You’re very welcome! What a great product you have. Good to know you also offer DVDs – thanks for the info. Best of luck to you :)

  • http://www.rousettus.com touchyoga

    Tom,
    I hope you give yoga a try. At the very least, yoga makes one aware of their body and what we choose to fuel it up with. The Visually Impaired Yoga Mat and descriptive DVDs by Rousettus allow you to practice yoga at home with more independence. Yoga helps with structural alignment, toning, flexibility, and relaxation. Good luck with whatever you choose. A blind person can do anything they set their mind to!!! Go get um!

  • Gempreext

    nice post!!

  • Curt Woolford

    I have been enjoying practicing and teaching yoga and meditation for over 10 years. When my vision changed about a decade ago, I was fortunate to have had a yoga and meditation practice in place. It helped tremendously with the stress of vision loss. At that time, I decided to go to Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health to learn how to teach yoga. After getting certified as an instructor, I have enjoyed teaching many students, some with chronic health issues and some with vision impairments. Yoga and meditation is very accessible to everyone, including the visually impaired. I often encourage students to close their eyes while in a yoga posture – it helps with mindfulness and being more present in the moment.

    Curt Woolford

  • touchyoga

    That is where I was certified as a yoga instructor. Kripalu style yoga is so gentle. Even though I have taken other classes and styles of yoga, Kripalu is still my favorite. That is the style of yoga on my DVDs designed for the blind and visually impaired.

  • http://www.aisquared.com Becca Proskin

    I grew up in Pittsfield, MA – just one town over – and never got into yoga until this year! Kind of funny how things work out sometimes :)

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