Chair Yoga For Seniors: A Gentle Sequence to Get You Started

By Nancy Coffin

Chair Yoga For Seniors: A Gentle Sequence to Get You Started is a practical guide to the postures in a basic chair yoga class. Included are methods, precautions and benefits as well as pictures for each posture. This book is intended for seniors, yoga teachers, and people offering exercise to seniors or others with reduced mobility in recreational or institutional settings.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Nancy Coffin
• Release date: Nov 25, 2013
• ISBN: 9781310788550

Book preview

How to use this book

This book is designed to provide you with a basic introduction to chair yoga, and a sequence that can get you started. The sequence provided here is based on what works in my own teaching experience. It is organized as a complete class, and is intended to be practiced from start to finish. If you would like to practice individual exercises on their own, please make sure you have warmed up sufficiently.

What is Chair Yoga?

Chair yoga is a gentle form of yoga that is practiced sitting in a chair, or standing using a chair for support. Chair Yoga can be practiced by just about anyone and can be practiced almost anywhere, with no need for specialized equipment or a large amount of space. Chair yoga classes or routines may involve gentle stretching, self-massage, meditation, breathing exercises, or a combination of these elements.

Precautions

Check with your doctor before starting chair yoga or any exercise program. Chair yoga and the exercises in this book may complement any existing medical treatment and are not intended in any way to replace medical treatment.

I want you to improve your flexibility so that you will be able to continue reaching down to tie up your shoes, get up and down off a chair safely, and have the strength and flexibility to get up and down off the floor if necessary. Chair Yoga For Seniors is about helping you be independent for as long as possible in your life.

Your pain free range of motion is your range of motion that does not cause pain or even clicking in your joints. Always work within this range. Yoga should never cause more pain. If something hurts, try a more gentle version of the posture, or ask your teacher for help finding a modification that works for your body.

Specific Health Issues

Osteoporosis:

Move slowly and with awareness to create space in your joints.

When twisting, take a gentle variation and NEVER use your arms to force or pull yourself into a twisted position.

When forward bending, move from your hip joints and avoid rounding your back. Imagine you are moving forward leading with your chest instead of your forehead.

Avoid bouncing and impact at all times.

High blood pressure:

Keep your head

Reviews for Chair Yoga For Seniors

[marziakim · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Very useful!