Breathe, Bend, and Balance—All from Your Chair! The Age-Defying Magic of Chair Yoga

Chair yoga is becoming popular because it is a well-rounded wellness practice providing a wide range of benefits to people of all abilities and ages. From a wide range of emotional health benefits to fall risk prevention this is an easily accessible style of yoga which can be enjoyed by older adults, desk workers, and individuals with limited mobility. 

 

At the Marlene Meyerson JCC in New York, a group of women in their 60s, 70s and 80s recently attended a chair yoga class. They had all recently stated chair yoga had become a significant activity in their routines. "You're stretching your whole body, you know," said Marian Rivman, almost 80. "What you can do in the chair is a little more forgiving on the knees and on the hips. So, as you become older, it allows you to get into positions that you were doing before, without hurting yourself." Her friend Harriet Luria said, "I took it up because I have osteoporosis and the chair yoga is much kinder. You don't worry as much about walking and falling and breaking anything."

 

Traditionally, chair yoga takes traditional poses and modifies them based on individuals who may find it more challenging to get onto a mat on the floor. Because of the variations and adaptability of chair yoga, it is perfect for older adults and benefits others recovering from surgery, chronic conditions, and even those who are working long hours at desks. In fact, many companies have begun offering short chair yoga classes to employees as a way to relieve stress and promote general health and wellness.

 

Whitney Chapman, an instructor, emphasized that chair yoga still provides quality workouts. "You really do use your muscles. It's an excellent workout," she said. 

 

Chair yoga is still a growing concept that is not only gaining popularity but is also being promoted as a factor for emotional wellness and fall-risk reduction among organizations and communities. Chair yoga can help improve their flexibility, strength, balance, or even to just simply to de-stress. 

 

Source: Star Tribune