Pilates, yoga and meditation at your village
Gentle, trauma-informed wellbeing sessions, brought to your village and planned around your residents.
We plan wellbeing programs with retirement villages, aged care homes and independent living communities in Berwick, Narre Warren, Cranbourne, Dandenong, Rowville and across Melbourne's south-east.
Mix and match to suit your residents. Choose any combination of Pilates, yoga or chair yoga, and meditation, and combine them in one program.
Residents don't need any experience. Every session has options, and anyone can rest at any time.
- Trauma-informed and options based
- Beginner friendly
- Delivered at your village
- Mix and match activities in one program
- Chair-based options available, so everyone can join in
- No touch or hands-on adjustments
- Usually weekly, at a time that suits you
What we offer
Three gentle activities, each run at your residents' pace. Choose one, two or all three. Any village can mix and match Pilates, yoga or chair yoga, and meditation in the same program.
Pilates
Slow, gentle Pilates with a focus on breathing, posture and controlled movement. We adapt each class to your residents.
It may help residents feel steadier in everyday movement.
Yoga and chair yoga
Chair yoga, done seated or using a chair for balance, plus gentle mat-free yoga. There is no floor work.
Wheelchair users can take part fully in chair-based sessions.
Meditation
Guided meditation and breathing, done seated in a chair or wheelchair. Residents can rest or simply listen.
It may help residents feel calmer and more settled.
Tell us what your residents are interested in, and we'll plan a mix that suits them.
Plan your program with us
Every village is different, so we plan your wellbeing program together.
- Tell us about your village. Email enquiries@atec.vic.edu.au with a few details. The list below shows what helps.
- Have a free planning call. We talk through your residents, your space and your timetable, and answer your questions.
- We design a program to suit. We choose the mix of Pilates, yoga and meditation with you, plan around your residents' mobility and your village's schedule, then send a quote.
- Sessions begin. We run sessions at your village, on the days and times we agree with you.
What to include in your email
- Your village name and suburb
- Which activities interest your residents: Pilates, yoga, meditation or a mix
- Roughly how many residents are interested
- The mobility mix, for example residents who use walking frames or wheelchairs
- Preferred days and times
- The space available, such as a common room or activity room
What residents can enjoy
Gentle movement and quiet time that starts where residents are. Regular sessions may help residents:
- Move gently, with options for every body
- Keep up mobility, strength and balance, with seated and supported options
- Feel calmer, through breathing and stillness
- Reconnect with their body, at their own pace
- Meet other residents and enjoy time together
Our sessions are group wellbeing activities, not therapy or medical treatment. Residents who are unsure whether a session suits them can check with their doctor first.
How it works for your village
At your village
We come to you and run sessions in a common room or activity room, so residents don't need to travel.
Simple to set up
Chair-based sessions need a sturdy chair for each person. We'll talk through your space when we plan.
Tailored to your residents
We work with a team of mental health professionals to tailor each program to the wellbeing needs of your participants.
A regular schedule
Sessions usually run weekly, on a day and time that suits your village, for an agreed length.
There is no set price. Every program is different, so we'll send a quote for your village once we've planned it with you.
Our trauma-informed approach
- Choice, always. Residents choose how they move or rest. It is not about looking a certain way or reaching a perfect pose.
- No hands-on adjustments. We make no physical contact with participants, unless it is needed for an emergency or safety reason.
- Invitational language. We offer options and invitations, never pressure. Residents can take a variation that suits their body, sit out or rest at any time.
- Practise at your pace. Move fast or slow. As long as residents are safe and comfortable, we're happy.
What participants say
"I leave each class feeling healthier and more positive! There is something special about doing yoga with a lovely group of people, never feeling pushed or judged."
"She is a very encouraging teacher, and her passion for health and fitness really resonated with me. You can really tell that she cares."
Who we are
We're the Australian Trauma Education Centre (ATEC), based in Berwick. We take a trauma-informed approach to everything we teach.
Feren Yen is ATEC's founder and a registered TCTSY facilitator. Our chair yoga is led by trained TCTSY (Trauma Center Trauma-Sensitive Yoga) facilitators.
We also run Berwick Yoga & Pilates classes for the local community.
Retirement village wellbeing programs across Berwick and south-east Melbourne
We're based in Berwick and bring Pilates, yoga and meditation to retirement villages within about 30 km. That covers the City of Casey and Cardinia Shire, and west towards Dandenong, Keysborough, Rowville and Glen Waverley. We already work with Woodlands Park, Berwick.
Suburbs we visit include:
- Beaconsfield
- Belgrave
- Berwick
- Clyde
- Cranbourne
- Cranbourne North
- Dandenong
- Dandenong North
- Doveton
- Emerald
- Endeavour Hills
- Ferntree Gully
- Glen Waverley
- Hallam
- Hampton Park
- Harkaway
- Keysborough
- Knoxfield
- Lynbrook
- Lysterfield
- Mulgrave
- Narre Warren
- Narre Warren North
- Narre Warren South
- Noble Park
- Officer
- Pakenham
- Rowville
- Scoresby
- Springvale
- Upwey
- Wheelers Hill
Not on the list? If your village is nearby, get in touch and we'll let you know if we can come to you.
Let's plan your village's wellbeing program
Email us a few details about your village, or book a free planning call.
We'll work out a program with you and send a quote for your village.
Prefer a form? Use our contact page.
Want to read more first? See chair yoga in aged care and retirement living, or our chair yoga in Berwick page.
Retirement village wellbeing programs: FAQs
Which activities can you run at our village?
Pilates, yoga and meditation. Yoga includes chair yoga and gentle mat-free options.
Can we mix Pilates, yoga and meditation?
Yes. Any village can choose any combination of Pilates, yoga or chair yoga, and meditation, and mix them in one program. For example, you could alternate chair yoga and Pilates each week, or end each session with a short meditation. We plan the mix with you.
Do you come to our suburb?
We visit retirement villages within about 30 km of Berwick, including Narre Warren, Cranbourne, Pakenham, Emerald, Dandenong, Keysborough, Rowville and Glen Waverley. If your village is nearby but not listed, get in touch and we'll let you know if we can come to you.
Do residents need experience?
No. It doesn't matter if residents are new to Pilates, yoga or meditation, or very experienced. Every session has options, and residents can rest at any time.
Can wheelchair users join?
Yes. Wheelchair users can take part fully in chair-based sessions. Residents who use walking frames can join in too. Let us know your residents' mobility mix when you get in touch, and we'll plan around it.
How often are sessions?
Sessions usually run weekly, on a day and time that suits your village, for an agreed length. We work this out with you when we plan your program.
How much does it cost?
There is no set price. We'll send a quote for your village once we've planned the program with you. Email enquiries@atec.vic.edu.au with a few details, or book a free planning call.
Can we try a free class first?
We don't offer free trial classes. You can book a free planning call to talk through your village and ask any questions before you decide.
What does our village need to provide?
A room with space for the group, such as a common room or activity room. Chair-based sessions need a sturdy chair for each person. We'll talk through anything else when we plan.
How many residents can join a session?
We plan group size with you, based on your residents and your space. Let us know roughly how many residents are interested when you get in touch.
Is there any touch or hands-on adjustment?
No. We make no physical contact with participants, unless it is needed for an emergency or safety reason.
Still have questions? We're happy to help you plan.
ATEC is not a crisis service. If you or someone else is in immediate danger, call 000 or go to your nearest emergency department.
For 24/7 crisis support, call Lifeline on 13 11 14. More services are on our emergency contacts page.
Our Pilates, yoga and meditation sessions are group wellbeing activities, not therapy or medical treatment. ATEC is an ACA registered counselling organisation and an NDIS-verified provider.
Australian Trauma Education Centre, PO Box 1024, Berwick VIC 3806. enquiries@atec.vic.edu.au
