As a SilverSneakers instructor, you already have valuable knowledge, skills and experience working with older adults. Applying what you have learned from Foundations, plus your experience teaching safe exercise and movement, sets you on the right path to teaching fun and effective SilverSneakers EnerChi classes.
EnerChi Class Goals
The addition of SilverSneakers EnerChi to your group fitness schedule provides an opportunity to expand enrollment, maximize participation and improve retention.
- Expand enrollment by increasing diversity in your class schedule, offering a group mind-body class that infuses tai chi and qigong exercises with standing and seated exercise options.
- Maximize participation by providing members with an easy-to-learn and gentle flowing class, appropriate for all levels of fitness.
- Improve retention by offering a class that will improve balance recovery, weight transfer and mindfulness.
Preparing to Teach EnerChi
Learning tai chi requires patience and repeated practice. The benefit of the practice itself is that there is always more to learn. Follow the recommendations below to feel confident as you lead your participants through SilverSneakers EnerChi:
- Take time to pause throughout this course and complete the practice sessions on your own. Repeat the practices as time permits.
- Use the videos in this course to become familiar with the stances and forms incorporated into the EnerChi class.
- Upon completion of this course, use the Master Class video and practice frequently.
- Use your fitness leadership skills to practice cueing effectively, mirroring and leading participants through a safe and effective class.
- Once you become confident with the Master Class, learn new forms and bring variety into your own classes. Make sure you follow the risk vs. benefit and safety recommendations from this course.
Put it into Practice: Open the Door
The first form introduced in the SilverSneakers EnerChi work segment is “Open the Door”. It is a simple, yet powerful, tai chi exercise when practiced with awareness using the key tai chi principles.
Watch the video. Practice the form with attention to these principles:
- Anchor to the ground while lifting chest tall, shoulders down and relaxed.
- Be aware of maintaining “softness” in the elbows, wrists, hips, knees and ankles while flowing with gentle muscular resistance.
- Calm your mind. Focus on moving with slowness in the body and breath.