How to Get Started With Chair Yoga
Extension Get Fit Chair Yoga is the perfect exercise for those looking to improve posture, increase flexibility, and improve balance while avoiding injury. A well-rounded exercise program includes flexibility and balance exercises and chair yoga is a great place to start.
What precautions should I take?
The mindful nature of yoga allows you to focus on how your body feels when performing the exercise while taking deep breaths to maintain focus. You should always we aware of how the pose feels and discern between discomfort and pain. If you are gentle with your movements, you can gradually increase intensity after a few sessions.
Below are chair yoga safety tips:
- Breathe - inhaling and exhaling with movement encourages joints to relax
- Sit upright
- Align the knee over your ankle
- Keep your feet flat on the floor
- Avoid straining
- Avoiding jerking or bouncing
What are the basic poses in chair yoga?
- Mountain pose
- Side bend
- Knee hug
- Cow/cat
- Helicopter
- Half forward fold
- Reverse chair
- Warrior 1 & 2
- Hamstring stretch
- Gluteal stretch
- Quad stretch
Download our chair yoga routine for instructions on each pose.
I have osteoporosis. Is chair yoga right for me?
For people who suffer from osteoporosis or osteopenia, precautions should be taken to protect the spine. These conditions weaken bone structure and increase the possibility of fractures. Two movements in particular can be harmful for those with osteoporosis: spinal flexion (forward bending) and rotation (twisting the spine). Our chair yoga routine was designed to place minimal pressure on the spine.
Some precautions for osteoporosis:
- Avoid bending forward from the waist. Bend forward from the hips, keeping the back straight.
- Avoid extreme spinal twists.
- Avoid situps, abdominal crunches and toetouches.