CardioCare: Yoga Therapy Tools for Heart Health August 7-9 & 16, 2027
with Adam Flores, Licensed CCPA, C-IAYT, E-RYT500, YACEP; Dawn Loftin, B.S., M.A., C-IAYT, E-RYT500 and Melinda Atkins, M.ED., MSc, C-IAYT, E-RYT500, YACEP
This course has been designated by the International Association of Yoga Therapists as an Approved Professional Development course offering 25 CE credits.
This course is offered in an entirely online Zoom format. Save on travel costs and earn approved recertification hours from the comfort of your home!
You do not need to be a certified yoga teacher or medical professional to apply for this course.
Course Schedule
Friday, August 7, 2027: 6:00-8:00pm(EST)
Saturday, August 8, 2027: 11am-7:00pm(EST)
Sunday, August 9, 2027: 11am-7:00pm(EST)
Sunday, August 16, 2027: Protocol Review: 10am-12pm (EST)
- The anatomy and physiology of the heart, and malfunctions that can affect it
- How to assess a client’s/patient’s physical and psychological readiness for yoga
- An overview of the science behind how yoga affects heart issues
- Key practices (asanas, pranayamas, mudras, etc.) and aspects of yoga philosophy that are important in working with heart-health issues, including strokes and heart arrythmia
- The health aspects (physical, mental, and emotional) that accompany heart disease, and ways to accommodate these in designing a yoga practice for a client or student
- How yoga can offer therapeutic benefits for clients experiencing heart blood vessel, valve, rhythm, and muscle issues.
“I felt that I learned above and beyond what I was expecting to regarding what a person who is experiencing a heart condition actually goes through.” —A. P.
“Ghada was so warm and sensitive about the topic—and you can tell she is very passionate about meeting people where they are, and helping them to really adjust to where they are, which might be in a very very different place than they remember before a serious health event. … She was so patient and clear in her communication and also made the information accessible, practice and fun.” —A. F.
“I appreciated how structured the class was and how it allowed us to practice teaching with one another.” —D. S.
Tuition
- 4-Day 25-Hour Certification: $550
Adam Flores, LMT, C-IAYT, E-RYT® 500, YACEP®: Adam Flores is a licensed massage therapist, certified yoga therapist, holistic health counselor, herbalist, and owner of Down to Earth Yoga and Wellness in Port St. Lucie, Florida. With over 20 years of yoga experience, he specializes in therapeutic yoga, massage therapy, and holistic wellness, with advanced training in neurodegenerative conditions and mental health. Adam has taught yoga therapy for Parkinson’s disease through grant-funded programs at AUM hOMe Shala. His extensive experience serving underserved populations includes providing yoga therapy to LGBTQ+ youth experiencing homelessness, individuals in addiction recovery and transitional housing programs, and incarcerated transgender individuals. Through the Inner Truth Project, he develops holistic programs and provides education and support for survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault. As an AUM hOMe Shala faculty member, Adam co-facilitates professional trainings in respiratory health, cardiovascular health, and Ayurveda, mentors yoga therapy students, and leads a weekly online, donation-based Pranayama (breathwork) class.
Dawn A. Loftin, B.S., M.A., C-IAYT, E-RYT®500 – Ayurveda Yoga Specialist and Relax & Renew® Trainer is an experienced yoga therapist, certified Ayurveda Yoga Specialist, and Relax & Renew® Trainer. She completed her 500-Hour RYT Training and clinical yoga therapy practicum with AUM hOMe Shala in 2017. As a dedicated faculty member, Dawn facilitates online Yoga Nidra classes and teaches gentle yoga for Parkinson’s and other neuro-motor diseases at Lake Norman Muay Thai/Rock Steady Boxing in Mooresville, NC. Certified through Kathryn Templeton’s teachings, Dawn integrates foundational aspects of Ayurveda into her yoga classes. She also holds a Relax & Renew® trainer certification from Judith Lasater, specializing in guiding students towards relaxation and stillness. Furthermore, Dawn has completed a 100-hour Trauma-Informed Yoga: Yoga Therapy for Mental Health course and a 40-hour Advanced Yoga Therapy for the Heart certification with Dr. Ghada Osman. Dawn is a lifelong learner, dedicated to deepening her personal yoga practice and continuously enhancing her skills. Her intention is to cultivate self-reliance and resilience in her students, helping them utilize time-tested practices to find inner peace and stability during times of change.
Melinda Atkins, M.ED, MSc, C-IAYT, E-RYT 500, is the founding director of AUM hOMe Shala, where she trains yoga teachers and yoga therapists. She completed her Professional Level training at Kripalu, received her Clinical Yoga Therapy certification at Loyola Marymount University, and is certified in the MELT Method® for myofascial release. Her yoga therapy practice focuses on neuro-degenerative disorders and other chronic conditions and disabilities. Melinda also develops and directs yoga programs for at-risk youth in inner-city Miami schools. She holds a master’s degree in educational administration from the University of Florida and a Master of Science in pharmacy from the University of Maryland.