Free Yoga Class for Persons with Disabilities

Many associate Yoga with a series of complicated, intricate movements that are difficult to perform, however, Yoga is not solely physical and anyone who wishes to connect with their physical, mental and spiritual selves can benefit, including persons with disabilities.

Jennifer Weiszhaar, a physical therapist at Rehabilitation Institute of Michigan’s (RIM) Novi Center, teaches an adaptive yoga class and believes the mind and body are connected, no matter what the disability.

“People in wheelchairs can still experience the energy flowing throughout their bodies and feel the opening of the chest and lengthening of the spine,” Weiszhaar says.

For the adaptive yoga class, a partner will assist each participant in feeling the experience of the pose. Props, such as blankets, towels and pillows will be used for support and Weiszhaar will even encourage those comfortable with getting out of their wheelchairs onto the mats to do so.

Weiszhaar has been practicing yoga for about eight years.  She has been trained by author, instructor and motivational speaker, Matthew Sanford. After a car accident left him paralyzed from the waist down, he became an advocate for the mind/body relationship and centers everything in his life around yoga and the life lessons he believes it has taught him.

Weiszhaar’s adaptive yoga class will take place on April 6, 2011 from 2-3 pm at RIM’s Novi Center, located at

42005 W. 12 Mile Rd.

The class is free but you must call in advance to register at 313-745-9748.

By: Carly Knazze, Rehabilitation Institute of Michigan