Have you thought about starting Yoga but don’t like the idea of getting up and down off the mat? Maybe you have an injury or a physical challenge that limits your range of movement, or maybe you are interested in trying a new style of Yoga that will still provide great mental and physical benefits.
Chair Yoga is accessible to people of all ages and abilities. It can help us improve our flexibility and range of motion as we stretch and strengthen our muscles, as well as help lubricate the joints to alleviate stiffness as we get them moving. Building up your strength with Chair Yoga can also help you to improve balance, reducing the risk of falls. All our favourite yoga poses such as Tree pose, Warrior 2 and Pigeon can be adapted to be done seats in a chair! In the photo, I’m holding a Pigeon pose. Same as in any class, you work within your own range of movement and there isn’t any pressure to do all the poses. Unlike a normal Yoga class, you can also have a bit of a natter during Chair Yoga too!
Like all forms of Yoga, Chair Yoga also encourages us to build our connection with ourselves; between our minds, our breath and our bodies. As well as helping to reduce stress by lowering cortisol levels, it can encourage us to find moments of mindfulness and calm. Chair Yoga allows us to press pause on our busy lives, settle into the moment and see what’s going on for us without judgement or criticism.
In a Chair Yoga class, we will start with a moment of quiet stillness to bring our focus to our breath. We will then go through some warm-up movements and stretches before our flow. You will be able to do all the poses sitting down, but there may also be the option some classes to do some of the poses standing up and using the chair for support. We will close with a short meditation to set us up for the rest of the day.
Does this sound like something you or a friend/family member would be interested in? I am starting a weekly Chair Yoga class at Eastthorpe Hall on Wednesday mornings and I would love for you to join! You can book your space here.
Category: Chair Yoga, Mindful Movement