Chair Yoga For Seniors

Chair Yoga For Seniors

Chair yoga for seniors is a gentle yet transformative way to traditional yoga poses. Unlike the conventional way of practicing yoga on a mad chair, yoga for seniors is a way to practice various yoga asanas while seated or using a chair as a prop to support them. This adaptation of chair yoga poses can help various individuals with varying levels of mobility and accessibility to support their needs and comfort while performing yoga.

In chair yoga for seniors, the chair becomes a prop that can be used for seated poses, standing poses, or a tool to balance them. In this article, we will talk about various chair yoga for seniors that can be incorporated into their daily lives to read the benefits of yoga and have a better body as people age. If you are interested in this then you should read this article till the end.

Benefits of chair yoga for seniors

As practicing yoga has a wide range of benefits, incorporating chair yoga for seniors can also help them reap those benefits which promote physical well-being, mental clarity, and emotional balance.

• Chair yoga for seniors can help them in improving their flexibility and joint mobility which becomes rigid after a certain age. This can help them in living a comfortable life with a wide range of motion.
• Chair yoga for seniors can also help them gain stability and enhanced balance with deliberate movements that engage their body and core forming a heightened sense of equilibrium.
• Practicing chair yoga for seniors can also help strengthen them by targeting major muscle groups and gentle movement to reduce rigidity in muscles and joints. This will increase the overall physical resilience of seniors.
• Besides these physical benefits, practicing chair yoga for seniors can also have a range of mental and emotional benefits which include a reduction in stress levels and enhanced relaxation.
• Practicing chair yoga can also help in improving focus and mental clarity by making them aware of the present movement and increasing cognitive function.
• Chair yoga for seniors also provides a place for self-reflection and emotional release which allows seniors to explore their overall life and create a supportive environment within themselves.

Various chair yoga for seniors

Chair yoga involves a range of different yoga poses. Below we have mentioned some of the poses and their modifications suitable for seniors.

Seated mountain pose

• This pose is an alteration of tadasana where a person practices it while sitting on a chair.
• To do this post begin by sitting comfortably on a chair with feet flat on the ground.
• The next step is to lift your chest and engage your core while extending your arms overhead with palms facing each other.
• If it is difficult to reach your hands upwards then as a modification you can also support your hands by holding them on the sides of the chair or resting them on the thighs.

Cat cow stretch

• To do this post as a chair yoga for seniors a person needs to sit on the edge of a chair.
• From there begin by inhaling and arching the back and lifting the chest in a cow pose
• Then with an exhale round the spine while talking the chain onto the chest in the cat pose.
• Make sure to move with your breath and keep the movements as gentle as possible within a comfortable range of motion.

Seated forward bend

• In this chair yoga for seniors set up right and extend your legs in front of you while flexing the feet.
• Now inhale and lengthen your spine and within exhale bend forward.
• This is a modification of the forward bend and if you feel the strain on your legs then you can always bend your knees slightly or use a strap around the feet for some support.

Chair warrior 1

• This chair yoga for seniors is the modification of warrior pose 1.
• In this pose, you can start by sitting at the front of the chair with one leg towards the back and another towards the front.
• Now inhale and raise your arm over your head while keeping the front knee bent.
• For modification and increasing the balance you can hold on to the chair for stability.

Seated twist

• For this chair pose for yoga sit on a chair with your spine tall.
• Now cross one leg over the other and twist towards the knee which is crossed.
• You can hold on to the back of the chair for support.
• Make sure that the twist is as comfortable as possible without straining or over-rotation.

Chair pigeon pose

• This modification for the pigeon post is very beneficial in opening the hips and increasing mobility.
• To practice this pose sit on a chair with one ankle crossed over the opposite knee.
• Now begin by leaning forward and creating a gentle stretch in the Hip area.
• You can adjust the intensity of the chair pigeon pose by varying the angle of the leg which is closed.

Tips for chair yoga for seniors

• One of the most important things to consider while performing chair yoga for seniors is gentle progression. First by doing the foundation of pose and then gradually increase the complexity of the postures and progress at your own pace.
• There are a wide range of modifications available so try to experiment and do the one which you are comfortable with. It is very important to choose a variation that feels right rather than overexerting your body.
• There is also a wide range of props available so use them diligently while performing chair yoga for seniors. One can use props like blocks or yoga straps to enhance support and alignment.
• It is also very important to keep in mind your health concerns while performing chair yoga for seniors. Consult a professional if you are facing some problems and still want to do these poses.

Bottom line

To conclude we can say that chair yoga for seniors is one of the great ways to incorporate yoga into the daily life of people who have aged but want to maintain their health through yoga. Even if your body doesn’t allow a range of motion by using a chair for support a person can do these poses and reap their many benefits.

Besides enhancing the physical side of a person performing chair yoga for seniors can also help in enhancing mental ability by increasing clarity and mindfulness. A person can easily do various forms of meditation while sitting on a chair.

If you want to learn guided cheer yoga for seniors under expert guidance then you can always enroll in Shiva yoga ashram to learn these yoga poses professionally. You can also learn the skills that are required to teach others to do these poses through yoga teacher training courses at 7chakra yoga school. So without any further wait enroll in any of the courses offered by this yoga school and learn chair yoga for seniors.

We hope you liked reading this article! If you want to read more such ones then you should check out our website and delve deeper into the world of yoga.

Stay safe and healthy!

Namaste!