Yoga offers numerous health benefits, including improved mental health, better weight management, and a lower risk of heart disease. However, all of the deep stretching, twists, and bends in traditional yoga poses can create challenges for those of us with mobility concerns. Chair yoga offers a great alternative, providing the incredible benefits of yoga with the convenience and accessibility of doing it from a seated position.
Related Blog: 8 Tips to Improve the Quality of Your Sleep
What is Chair Yoga?
People have been practicing yoga for thousands of years, with some of the earliest historical records of yoga dating back to 2700 BC.
Chair yoga is a modern take on this age-old practice:
- It boasts all the perks and movements of traditional yoga
- It's adjusted to your specific health concerns, whether that's limited mobility or difficulty with maintaining your balance
- It offers the added assistance and comfort of a chair, removing the need to get up and down from a yoga mat
Chair yoga is popular even with those who don't have mobility or balance concerns. For instance, many office workers incorporate chair yoga as an easy way to practice their yoga routine in their office cubicles. It's also great for when you're traveling, helping to boost blood flow and reduce stress when you're waiting in an airport or sitting on an airplane.
What are the Benefits of Chair Yoga?
Chair yoga, just like traditional yoga, can help you to experience a wide range of health and wellness benefits. For instance, one of the top benefits is enhanced flexibility, with research showing that regularly practicing yoga can even help to slow down the loss of flexibility that comes with aging (and even improve flexibility specifically in those ages 65 and older).
Likewise, chair yoga may help prevent a lot of the common health issues you may be concerned about. Chair yoga may help strengthen your bones, including a reduced risk of osteoporosis; reduce your levels of stress and anxiety, which is critical when anxiety is one of the most common health concerns in senior citizens; and strengthen your immune system, making you more resistant to various infections and illnesses.
Examples of Chair Yoga Poses
Before trying chair yoga, talk to your doctor or a medical professional to ensure that the specific poses you want to try won't exacerbate any pre-existing health conditions you may have. The best part about chair yoga is that it's easily adaptable to any health concerns, making yoga accessible for all.
There are many online tutorials and in-person options that you can follow to easily incorporate chair yoga into your life, including:
- The Yoga Journal
- Online YouTube tutorials such as Yoga with Kassandra and Yoga by Kierstie Payge
- Your local yoga studio or community center, many of which have free or low-cost classes that guide you through a chair yoga flow
Chair yoga poses take a traditional yoga pose and simply adapt it to be done from a seated position in a chair. Example chair yoga poses include:
- Chair Cat-Cow Stretch
- Chair Forward Bend - Uttanasana
- Chair Spinal Twist - Ardha Matsyendrasana
- Chair Warrior I (Virabhadrasana I)
Remember, there is no rushing in yoga. The key is to listen to your body and its needs. If a pose does not feel right to you, simply skip it or use a modification that benefits you.
At Moorings Park Communities, weekly chair yoga classes are available to members inside The Center for Healthy Living®. During these classes, you'll be given guided lessons to get the most out of these unique stretches. Contact us today to learn more about our services, and all the amenities and classes we offer to help support your healthiest, strongest, and happiest self.
