A few reasons why everyone and anyone can/could/should practice chair yoga!
Setting the record straight: chair yoga is for everyone!
Chair yoga a practice that allows all levels and abilities of yoga practitioners to enjoy the benefits of yoga.
Rather than confining our minds to only think of yoga in a stunning studio, on a mat, with the perfect window/plant backdrop (not that there is anything I dislike about this idea) — I’ve come up with a few reasons why this style of yoga might be not only more accessible, but an overall better yoga lineage to practice for most people — or perhaps a more approachable class than the common vinyasa mat yoga we find ubiquitously throughout wellness, fitness and movement spaces.
From my time spent learning ways to make yoga more accessible for people, I discovered Jivana Heyman’s podcast, book and website dedicated to Accessible Yoga. From taking his online classes, to his books, and enjoying his podcast and workshops, I share in the dreamy vision that one day I hope to look around the various yoga spaces I am in and see true integration of folks of all levels and abilities together enjoying the beautiful benefits, feelings, and efforts of yoga.
If you’ve never taken a chair yoga class and are curious to try — here is a chair yoga class with Jivana on YouTube!
Hopefully after you finish reading this, you treat yourself with this lovely class and experience how grounding and nourishing this practice is.
A few reasons why people prefer a chair yoga practice on any given day.
Changing levels in the body (up, down, folding, standing, sweeping, kneeling, lunging…etc) is not what the body needs.
The quick transitions from lying down to sitting up, child’s pose to a forward fold, or down dog to standing, can be dizzying for people!
It’s common for leveled transitions like these to spark nausea, heartburn, anxiety, vertigo, or lightheadedness.
In chair yoga, poses tend to be practiced in a group rather than a flowing sequence, and variations of poses progress slowly. For example, seated postures, balancing or twists are tied together with mindful progressions. Changing the body’s orientation in space so frequently and quickly, like in a vinyasa class for example, can be challenging and fatiguing.
Interested in pranyama (breath), meditation and befriending the mind.
Chair yoga challenges the fitness gaze that yoga should be dynamic, acrobatic and physically challenging. Chair yoga embraces the true roots of yoga as a spiritual path to awakening from within. Pranyama, meditation and visualizations are examples of yogic tools that teach our minds to understand our true essence and purpose. The benefits of a pranayama and meditation practice are cornerstone to our journey as devoted yoga practitioners. No matter where you go, you can inhale, exhale and still the mind. In any chair, any bed, and any space you can tap into the magic of breath and the power of your mind.
These beautiful practices usually begin and/or complete a chair yoga class. Many folks consider these practices the most advanced version of yoga.
Looking for a movement class that flows at a slower, more gentle pace. It’s giving: less is more.
Some days we are in the mood for mellow, slow, and sweet. Chair yoga is calming, centering, grounding, and subtle. There will be days (probably more than we care to admit) when what we really need is intentional rest and relaxation. If we have a regular movement routine or we manage households and careers, our bodies and minds are over worked and tremendously stimulated. Chair yoga is an opportunity to practice slowing down our racing thoughts and send loving kindness into the body to gain clarity, presence, and awareness.
Desire to have a yoga date with a parent, grandparent or a friend who is new to yoga!
Chair yoga is a great option for beginner yoga practitioners and for adults learning about stretching and mobility, in recovery from an injury, or who cannot physically sit on the ground. Most yoga asana classes out there actually require an above average level of coordination, balance, strength, range of motion, and focus. The amount of time we spend sitting and/or looking at screens has had a severe negative impact on the general population’s ability to move well.
It’s more common that people don’t practice yoga. So, if you love yoga and want to share the benefits of this practice with other’s, consider bringing them to chair yoga!
I wrote this to inspire the movement lovers community to consider teaching, practicing or encouraging more chair yoga throughout our wellness, fitness and movement spaces!
In March 2024, I began offering chair yoga at The Form Lab and I can’t wait to see where this journey takes me.
