| You might think you can't practice yoga because you | | | | Add in some gentle stretching and you can feel the |
| are not steady on your feet, you have chronic pain, | | | | stress leave your body. We don't realize how we |
| your balance is off kilter, or you have difficulty getting | | | | contract muscles when we hold onto stress, either |
| up and down, but you might be wrong. Chair Yoga can | | | | mental of physical. If we can let go, even a little, we |
| be a safer alternative to people with disabilities, chronic | | | | can be rewarded with less stress, a lighter body, more |
| pain, or people who don't feel steady enough to | | | | confidence and maybe a little less pain. |
| practice on their own. | | | | Bringing yourself into the present moment allows you |
| The stress relieving practice of breathing into gentle | | | | to feel your body. |
| stretches can ease some of the anxiety related to | | | | Try this: Sit in a chair and rest your feet on the ground. |
| chronic pain and disability. If we can alleviate some of | | | | With your spine lengthened as much as you can |
| the stress, we might be able to change the perception | | | | comfortably, rest your shoulders down. Close your |
| of the pain. The circle of pain: chronic pain and the | | | | eyes and just breathe. Try to forget about anything |
| mental anguish that comes along with it, never allows | | | | else that you need to do or anywhere that you need |
| your body or brain to rest. By bringing awareness and | | | | to go. Take two minutes for yourself right now. Let |
| relief to some of the mental stress we hold onto, we | | | | your breath travel over and into your muscles. Simply |
| can erase some of the stress and maybe even | | | | be aware of how your body feels at this moment. |
| alleviate some of the pain. | | | | Notice how your body feels, but don't judge it or be |
| As we age, sometimes we feel less sure of | | | | angry at it - simply be aware of which parts feel good |
| ourselves. We are afraid to fall and we might not feel | | | | and which parts maybe not so good. Now, inhale and |
| strong enough to move through a series of poses. In | | | | let the fresh breath fill your upper body with air like a |
| chair yoga we use the chair as a base for standing | | | | balloon. And exhale all that air out of your lungs. Take |
| poses or we can even transform standing poses into | | | | three deep breaths like that. Relax and breathe |
| seated poses. When we feel safe and secure, we | | | | normally and notice how your body feels with each |
| worry less about injury and focus more on the body | | | | relaxed breath. |
| we are trying to make feel better. | | | | You just practiced mindfulness. It is as simple as that. |
| When teaching any yoga class, I want my students to | | | | When you start moving into gentle stretches you just |
| keep every stretch safe. Adjusting the pose to fit your | | | | breathe into them. The safety of the chair allows you |
| body instead of forcing into a pose is a general mantra | | | | to relax and enjoy the sensations of your movements. |
| (a mantra is a saying or slogan) of mine. Chair yoga | | | | The focus lets you be aware of how your muscles |
| works along the same idea. | | | | feel in any stretch so that you can adjust it accordingly. |
| Practicing chair yoga can bring the same benefits as a | | | | Chair yoga offers all of the benefits of a full yoga |
| full yoga practice. The idea is that the breathing and | | | | practice without the worry. Chair yoga can be found in |
| awareness practice is the same; we are simply | | | | many community or senior centers and in some yoga |
| adjusting the poses so that we are more comfortable | | | | studios. Many nursing homes offer chair yoga classes |
| in them. You can't really pay attention to your body | | | | as do adult day care facilities that care for people with |
| and connect with your muscles stretching if you are | | | | severe disabilities. If it helps these people, maybe it can |
| unsteady and afraid to fall over or if you have chronic | | | | help you too. |
| pain and that is all you can think about. | | | | Please make sure you are working with a qualified |
| You should, of course, check with your doctor before | | | | instructor who is CPR certified. Let your instructor |
| trying this or any other new form of exercise. Many | | | | know if anything ails you so that he or she can direct |
| doctors will encourage you to move sedentary | | | | you during some of the poses to safe modifications. |
| muscles. The breathing practice is also usually | | | | Practicing chair yoga can give you confidence, stress |
| encouraged by doctors because it increases lung | | | | relief, and build strength and vitality. Let someone give |
| capacity and releases toxins from your lungs. | | | | you those gifts. You deserve it! Check with your |
| If you simply practice the mindfulness and breathing | | | | doctor and find a chair yoga class near you. |
| you can gain enormous benefits from your practice. | | | | |