Thread: Ideas for OAPs class

please help, I've been asked to teach a taster class for 2 weeks to a small group of over 60's & have been told today that some of them will be sitting down as they are not able to stand up for very long. the class is an hour long. any ideas for making this class fun for both the standing & sitting!

While sitting, you could practic snake arms, individual glute squeezes and head slides. When standing, you could work traveling undulations to relieve pressure on the knees.

Originally Posted by chloe1

please help, I've been asked to teach a taster class for 2 weeks to a small group of over 60's & have been told today that some of them will be sitting down as they are not able to stand up for very long. the class is an hour long. any ideas for making this class fun for both the standing & sitting!

How far over 60? there is a great deal of difference etween someone like myself teaching belly dance and performing at 63 and an 83 who has not exercised regularly since she pushed a pram.
There is a great deal of difference between the 75 year old hill walker who may have better lung capacity than you and the 68 year old who does nothing more than lift a bingo pen.
You need more information about the students and their state of health and fitness. Because you will be just as unsuccessful if you underestimate thier ability as if you jumped in and did high impact bellyrobics.
Also check the premises you are alotted are suitable..it's amazing how many people think we can teach on concrete/deep pile carpet and don't provide suitable music systems.

Even seated, students can make pretty patterns in the air with scarves or veils to stretch the arms and upper body...

Originally Posted by lizajuk

How far over 60? there is a great deal of difference etween someone like myself teaching belly dance and performing at 63 and an 83 who has not exercised regularly since she pushed a pram.
There is a great deal of difference between the 75 year old hill walker who may have better lung capacity than you and the 68 year old who does nothing more than lift a bingo pen.
You need more information about the students and their state of health and fitness. Because you will be just as unsuccessful if you underestimate thier ability as if you jumped in and did high impact bellyrobics.
Also check the premises you are alotted are suitable..it's amazing how many people think we can teach on concrete/deep pile carpet and don't provide suitable music systems.

i dont know many details as i am standing in for their normal fitness teacher at the last minute but i think it is a mixed ability class. i already teach classes with lots of women well over 60 of mixed dance levels, it is more my concern for the ladies that will be sitting down, i want to be able to keep everyone intrested & make it enjoyable for everyone, i dont want the ones sitting to feel left out. i dont think any of them have ever done bellydancing before.
as to location its a village hall & i have my own stereo so i think that will be ok.

I would strongly recommend asking each participant to disclose to you privately if they have any sort of medical restrictions that would interfere with their bending forward, holding their arms up/out for longer than a few seconds, history of dizziness or balance problems, mobility issues, etc., so you can use that information to adjust your lesson plan. This isn't about keeping anyone from having fun, but making sure you are not inadvertently giving your students instructions that are unsafe for them to follow. Nobody wants to be old and unable to do things, and there can be a self-defeating competitiveness between senior citizens to prove who's still the most mobile. It's not big deal from your end to teach arms framing the hips instead of palms together over the head, if the difference will mean that everybody is still conscious and smiling at the end of class.

Also, have a backup plan of music appreciation or a little time for them to watch you perform informally at the end of class. You can always keep teaching if they're going along great, but prepare something to fall back on if they start to get too tired to continue.

When I taught (briefly) at a Senior Center, about half the class need to sit a lot. I alternated seated/standing every 15 minutes. That didn't seem to tax anyone over much. Lots of hand, shoulder and ribcage movements while in the seated position.

chair dancing is lots of fun.... but you may want to get them to hold onto their "seats" for stability while trying any chest circles tho!

snake arms might be as simple a floating up their hand to tickle the person beside them.
props like small scarves are great to use, and so are canes!! those bring in some bamboo canes, but be prepared to dance with an othopedic one for laughs!

I think Cory Zamora has a DVD for teaching the elderly bellydance? I could be wrong though....

I had a gal once who came to my seniors class with her friend she was visiting in her wheel chair. Since she could only do arm/hand and a little bit of chest movement I taught her how to clap out couple of easy drum patterns and would show her which one went with which peices of music as I taught class. She loved it so that might be an idea for the less mobile.

Originally Posted by JDnRIA

While sitting, you could practic snake arms, individual glute squeezes and head slides. When standing, you could work traveling undulations to relieve pressure on the knees.

Please no!
Snake arms require healthy shoulders which are not facing forward too much.
Head slides become difficult for most people after their 40s as it requires neck mobility.
Undulations really stress the lower back.

Originally Posted by Afrit09

Please no!
Snake arms require healthy shoulders which are not facing forward too much.
Head slides become difficult for most people after their 40s as it requires neck mobility.
Undulations really stress the lower back.

I manage snaky arms despite a run in with rheumatoid arthritis ( which of course is not limited to the elderly) but at 63, I do pathetic head- slides and always hope for a younger student who can surpass me.
Undulations have to be very gentle and not sustained.
Of course there are always exceptions to the general rule of health and you'll meet OAPs who are extremely fit and supple and these are the ones you need to be able to cater for as well as those with less mobility. Low expectations are just as wrong and leaping in thoughtlessly
In a way there is no difference when meeting a mixed ability class of under 60s..never assume anything and make sure the premises are suitable. Often when teaching in senior facilities, you will have helpers on hand wheras you don't in a "normal" weekly class. I have had a 70 year old give up with knee problems but also a 30 year old who has a pelvic abnormality.

What about spending some time clapping out drum rhythms, or even handing out some zills or tambourines? If part of the group are more able-bodies and enthusiastic about moving, you can get the chair-bound to play a basic saidi rhythm. Twirling canes might also be possible for people that can stand up but not move around a lot.

Having said that, I wouldn't expect an average group 'over 60's' to be that infirm!

thanks for all you tips & ideas. I pretty much used all of them. I taught the class & the ladies loved it. I did a mixture of everyone standin up & then everyone sitting down. It was fab, they loved dancing with sticks!