What is Chair Yoga?

 

Chair Yoga refers to the asana practice of doing yoga postures using a chair for support and balance.  A purer answer to the question “What is Yoga” may not even address the asana (physical) practice of yoga postures, but here we will mainly focus on that - the asana or physical practice of yoga. Later, I’ll provide a link to another site that answers the question “What is Yoga?” in a more philosophical way.  

 

But for here, let’s get physical. Chair Yoga is a form of Hatha Yoga, which means combining breath control and physical movement and postures to focus the mind. Broadly, the benefits of Chair Yoga are a calm, focused and confident mind and a strong and flexible body. Hatha Yoga is often referred to as a moving meditation and in that Chair Yoga is the same as any other form. Focusing on breathing one moves and holds postures, and in doing simultaneously strengthens mind and body.

 

Why Chair Yoga?

 

I’ll break a rule and answer this question with a question - why not Chair Yoga? But if you are reading this and looking for the reason you are considering Chair Yoga, it might be one of these:

 

• Gain strength and stamina

• Improve balance and stability

• Improve posture and flexibility

• Relieve and reduce pain

• Reduce the risk of injury

• Reduce stress / Increase calmness

• Improve focus and concentration

• Be more present

 

Notice this list is not about age or other "limitations" because yoga is about what is possible.  This list of reasons is more a list of goals that are available to anyone regardless of age or limitations. Your reason might not be any of these, but when it comes to doing yoga, a reason is a reason, and so if you are still reading you have a reason even if you don’t know exactly what it is.   

 

Is Chair Yoga just for Seniors?

 

No, not here it isn't. Whatever your age, you’re still reading, so let’s admit you are at least “yoga-curious”.  You have friends and family who love, love, love their yoga practice and you have a yearning to get some of that vibrancy they exhibit for yourself. Why haven’t you, then? I’ll be blunt, here’s why. Most of us who are not athletes, whether in our 20’s, 30’s, 40’s, 50’s, 60’s, 70’s and beyond, are not exactly in our best physical conditions. It’s very common and nothing to be ashamed of.  But it means that doing a very challenging Power Vinyasa Yoga class might be a bit too daunting (at least for right now), either physically or mentally or both.

 

So here at Chair Yoga Rocks classes are geared to everybody who wants to do yoga. You can be somewhere in the vast middle-ages (people in their forties, fifties, sixties, seventies all do our classes) or you can be younger (many younger adults in their twenties and thirties do the same classes) or you can be older (my 80+ year-old mom does the classes).  Some are or have been athletes, some have been more docile.  Some are experienced yogis who practice elsewhere as well, and many are yoga beginners. The one thing that is common to all of them is they come to classes at Chair Yoga Rocks every week. I'm are proud and grateful for their dedication to us and to themselves.

 

Why not do regular Vinyasa Yoga classes?

 

So if you are not older or don’t otherwise lack mobility, strength and balance, why not just do Vinyasa Yoga classes?  Well, here’s the thing about Vinyasa Yoga. The truly hardest part is the “flow” sequence that requires students to get down and up from the floor over and over and over during a 60- or 75-minute class. For many it’s just too much. And so they don’t continue to practice regularly.

 

What makes Chair Yoga Rocks different?

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My classes are Vinyasa Yoga with a chair.

 

Most Chair Yoga classes are geared only towards older people with limited mobility, strength and balance and so the classes are just not challenging enough for people who are younger and/or more fit.  And that's a shame, because although almost every yoga teacher and studio says yoga is for everybody, virtually none are offering classes for the majority of people who are not up for a demanding Power Vinyasa class but yet are interested in an active form of yoga that fits their lifestyle.

 

Again, my classes are Vinyasa Yoga with a chair. The same focus on breathing and alignment that the most popular “hot yoga” classes do. Chair Yoga Rocks postures are the same vinyasa Yoga postures with the same intensity and we get the same benefits of a stronger body and a calmer, more relaxed mind.  

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The classes are geared to everybody who wants to do yoga. That’s why people in their 20’s though 70’s and older come and keep coming, week after week after week. (Yoga Sutra 1.14 - “Perfection in practice comes when one continues to practice with sincerity and respect for a long period of time without any interruption.”)

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Chair Yoga Rocks is Virtual and LIVE!

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You can attend classes from anywhere because all classes are live on Zoom. This is really big.

 

Because unless you live in a senior assisted-living community, you probably won't find any live in-person Chair Yoga classes offered near you. Look online and you can find pre-recorded subscription classes that can be quite good. But after a while they might become boring and it's hard to stay motivated.

 

My classes are live and you will interact with a live teacher and other students. You'll be joining a real community of yogis who practice together every week on multiple days. Check out what they have to say. 

 

Most students join classes from home so there's no time spent getting to and from a yoga studio. Your yoga studio is wherever you and your phone, tablet or computer are.  

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Ready? What else can we tell you?

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I can absolutely promise to have the most eclectic and fun music playlists you will ever hear in a yoga class anywhere.

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And finally, you can't beat the price - it's up to you. Classes are free/optional donation.