Chair Yoga: Yoga For Any Body
Ranked #765 in Sports & Recreation, #25,608 overall
Yoga?? Me??
YES!
Yoga isn't about being the most flexible, or athletic, or strongest - it is about reserving a space in your day to put everything else aside and spend some time in your body. Participation in yoga is an incredibly rejuvenating and healing activity. It is not just for the young and active - it's for every body! Those who are aging, recovering from an injury, dealing with weight issues, or even those with no time away from work can all do yoga , too!
Chair yoga is a form of yoga for those who need a little extra assistance or support in the poses. It is just as effective and recuperative than yoga on a mat! Do you have your chair ready? Let's go!
Who Can Benefit From Chair Yoga?
ANYONE!
If you find yourself sitting and feel the need for some rejuvenation, try a few Chair Yoga poses. Fold forward and let your hands and head hang. Enjoy the stretch across your shoulders and back of your neck. Chair Yoga is especially helpful if you are:
Extremely Inflexible
• Those with very tight hamstrings or inflexible spine might find yoga in a chair more comfortable and supportive while they work on increasing flexibility.
Recovering From an Injury or Surgery
• The pain of an injury may keep someone from performing the exercise they did previously. Doing Chair Yoga while recovering can maintain strength and flexibility until the person is able to get back to his or her regular exercise program.
Dealing With the Effects of Aging
• Chair yoga helps keeps muscles stronger, joints flexible, minds alert and improves balance.
Managing Weight Issues
• Chair yoga is an excellent way to ease back into an exercise routine and makes the poses more accessible and comfortable.
Working With a Chronic Illness
• Extended illnesses can rob one's energy. Gentle exercise helps invigorate the body and build stamina while still allowing the body to heal.
Struggling To Get Away from Work
• Strapped for time and can't get away from your desk? Stay in your chair, do a few postures and you'll be re-energized for your next project.
Easy Does It Yoga!
The American Yoga Association's Easy Does It Yoga : The Safe and Gentle Way to Health and Well-Being
Amazon Price: $7.98 (as of 05/30/2012)
One of THE BEST books on chair yoga! This book targets older adults and persons with chronic medical conditions who may require a gentle or modified approach to exercise. A six-week program to get you started and to help you develop a basic understanding of essential movements!
Sample Chair Yoga Poses
SIDE TWISTS
Side twists are beneficial for spine flexibility and mobility. Also great for massaging and increasing the blood flow to the organs.
DOWNWARD-FACING DOG
Adho Mukha Svanasana is wonderful for strengthening the arms and shoulders, aligning the spine and improving mobility in the hips.
WARRIOR ONE
Virabhadrasana I is perfect for building strength in the legs and shoulders, mobility in the hips and alignment of the spine.
Photos from the Tennesee Yoga website - Gentle Yoga
Teaching "Easy Does It Yoga"
The Easy Does It Yoga Trainer's Guide
Amazon Price: $37.95 (as of 05/30/2012)
Do you want to share the experience of Chair Yoga with others? Check on this book for a comprehensive guide to teaching Easy Does It Yoga!
Find a Yoga Chair!
![Set of 4 Triple Braced & Double Hinged Gray Fabric HERCULES™ Folding Chair - 2.5''Thick Seat [HF3-MC320AF-GRY-GG]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41TgELaME4L._SL160_.jpg)
Set of 4 Triple Braced & Double Hinged Gray Fabric HERCULES™ Folding Chair - 2.5''Thick Seat [HF3-MC320AF-GRY-GG]
Amazon Price: $125.47 (as of 05/30/2012)
The best type of Yoga Chair is one that won't slip, is comfortable, does not have arms, and has a back to use for support. Check for rubber caps or non-slip patches on the feet of the chair. Comfort is also important. Hard chairs with any sharp or rough edges or places that pinch can make your yoga experience unpleasant.
Chair Yoga Resources on the Web
- Liz Franklin's Yoga in Chairs
- Yoga in Chairs - You Can Do This!
- Living Words of Wisdom - Chair Yoga
- Provides free downloadable print-outs of chair yoga sequences.
- Get Fit Where You Sit!
- Web site specifically for chair yoga, chair fitness and other forms of adaptive chair exercises.
- Chair Yoga Teacher Certification
- This training is for yoga teachers, teachers-in-training and health care practitioners with yoga experience who want to teach Chair Yoga to help those limited by age, weight, handicap or inflexibility.
- Chair Yoga with Sandi
- The Manhattan based program "Chair Yoga with Sandi" is brought directly to the client and enables the benefits of traditional yoga practice to be enjoyed comfortably by seniors, people with injuries, the overweight, and those with other health concerns.
Sitting at a Computer All Day?
Yoga for Computer Users: Healthy Necks, Shoulders, Wrists, and Hands in the Postmodern Age (Rodmell Press Yoga Shorts)
Amazon Price: $8.88 (as of 05/30/2012)
An ever-increasing number of people depend on computers for both work and entertainment, which means an ever-increasing number of hours spent slumped in a chair and an ever-increasing number of hand, wrist, neck, and shoulder injuries. Yoga for Computer Users offers a new kind of preventive self-care. It contains 23 illustrated poses and exercises, plus breathing and relaxation techniques, that increase circulation and range of motion, prevent injuries to the upper body, improve posture, and avert energy stagnation. They can be performed regardless of age or yoga experience.
Yoga Supplies Online!
Chair Yoga for your TV
Chair Yoga: A Seated Practice
Amazon Price: $19.99 (as of 05/30/2012)
Chair yoga with yoga certified instructor Ann Richmond is a seated yoga practice designed specially for those who would like the benefits of yoga, but for whom a standard yoga practice is not possible.
In this practice, you will be gently guided through a series of stretches and modified yoga poses designed to increase stamina and bloodflow, as well as to help with problems that many of us deal with, such as fatigue and stress. Yoga tones the body and clears the mind.
Yoga is something that can help every person and every body. Yoga is highly beneficial, regardless of your level of flexibility.
Enjoy the benefits of yoga without having to perform rigorous standing poses.
Yoga is for EVERY body!
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Share Your Thoughts...
What do you think of Chair Yoga? Would it be helpful for someone you know? Have any additional yoga tips for those easing into yoga?
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Tolovaj
Apr 9, 2012 @ 4:16 am | delete
- We spend way too much time sitting, so using chair for any other activity is great idea!
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3rexer
Dec 10, 2011 @ 12:59 am | delete
- wooo very useful
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Maferneto
Aug 23, 2011 @ 2:33 pm | delete
- I feel so much pain in my back due to bad position and i will try chair yoga. Very nice lens!
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KANEsUgAr
Jun 14, 2011 @ 7:58 pm | delete
- i never though about using a chair for yoga before. great ideas i love it.
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Gerald_McConway Jun 14, 2011 @ 7:10 pm | delete
- I have a very bad back and have been looking for ways to partake in Yoga at a "beginner" level so I can enjoy the benefits. This looks like the perfect solution, thanks!
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About Shannon!
by LotusMalas
Shannon is a Yoga teacher, Reiki Master & Yoga Therapist-in-training with a Master's in Transpersonal Psychology who loves her mantra practice. Loves... more »
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