Yoga chair is a fantastic and easily accessible way to enjoy every movement that yoga offers but with the comfort of a chair. This can be the turning point for you. Let me tell you how.
What exactly is Chair Yoga?
It is the same as traditional yoga but with some ease for you. In this you don’t have to go through the hassle of cleaning the floor and then putting mat on it. You simply sit on a chair and use it to help you balance while you are stretching and doing movements.
In this you are moving your body, stretching your joints, improving your breath and also getting good mental health benefits.
Who’s Chair Yoga Perfect For?
Many people from different age groups can benefit from chair yoga. Here I am mentioning the major ones.
Older Adults: When we grow and become old our joints become stiff and we don’t have the same physical strength as once we had when we were young. Nor can our stretches go far. Moreover, our mobility is also affected. Our strength also depletes naturally and if we have to fight multiple diseases.
Chair yoga is an extremely secure way to do movements that can help you stay strong without worrying about falling on ground or getting support from another person.
People with Limited Mobility: Chair Yoga is a blessing for the people who are in the process of healing from an injury or are dealing with serious chronic conditions like arthritis. It gives you the freedom to do gentle movements and also build strength with a very low pressure on your joints.
Desk Workers: Having a job which requires you to sit at a desk for countless hours can make your back and neck very stiff and achy. Developing a short routine to do chair yoga stretches can really do wonders. It will release all the tension from your body right at your desk.
Beginners to Exercise: If you have not much experience in working out or are out of rhythm for a while, chair yoga could be a very gentle start for you. It will allow you to build strength and flexibility slowly and safely.
Anyone Wanting a Gentle Workout: Even if you’re super active sometimes you might require a low impact day. Chair yoga is wonderful for body relaxation and flexibility.
Why We Love Chair Yoga: The Benefits
If I was to list the benefits of how beneficial chair yoga is you will be amazed.
Here are the few top ones:
1. Feel Looser, Move Better
Having Tight hips or stiff back? Chair yoga will help you release that stiffness and soreness of your muscles and tissues and help you feel better. It can give you the freedom to move more freely during your daily routine.
2. Quietly Builds Strength
You will be definitely stunned by how much your core, arms and legs are involved in Chair Yoga even though it’s a low impact exercise. Hence it can help you significantly strengthen your muscles that can help you stay on your feet with confidence.
3. Helps You Stay Balanced
When you do chair yoga a high percentage of moves challenge your stability (without the fear of falling.) With regular practice everyday actions e.g standing up, walking across the room, or grabbing something from a cupboard. start to feel easier and more secure.
4. Soothes Aches Without Strain
By moving gently your blood flow improves significantly and this simple act is full of wonders. It brings flexibility back to your frozen joints. Additionally, if you are struggling with soreness or stiffness, it soothes your body without wear and tear.
5. Gives your mind a break
If you focus on slow movement and breath this gives you a moment to just breathe during your day. It is a peaceful way to recharge whenever our days become excessively hectic.
6. Helps You Sleep More Deeply
Stress can mess with your sleep. By winding down with mindful movement, you help your body rest. That enables you to drift into sleep smoothly and for a longer duration.
7. You Can Do It Almost Anywhere
All you need is a sturdy chair. That’s truly it! No mat, no studio, no pressure. Just find a quiet spot at home.
How to initiate Chair yoga at home?
Are you ready to give it a shot?
Find a Sturdy Chair: Make sure it’s stable. It shouldn’t have wheels. Your feet need to be levelled flat against the ground.”
Listen to Your Body: You have to listen to the demands of your body. If anything causes you pain stop it immediately. Yoga is not about reaching your body limits by doing harsh movements. It comes down to practicing gentle motions that are useful in easing your body.
Let your breath Deepen: Pay attention to how you are breathing. Take air into your lungs gradually and afterward exhale it without hurrying. By connecting your breath to your movements you’ll feel a huge difference.
Start Simple: There are plenty of chair yoga poses for you to try. I will list the few common ones which you can do now to make a start.
Simple Chair Yoga Poses for Your Day
Seated Cat-Cow
This move is amazing for your spine. It helps you feel more flexible and comfortable.
-
- Sit up tall. Put your hands on your knees.
-
- Exhale Out: Curve your backbone and then guide your chin towards torso.
-
- Breathe in: lift your lower back and raise your chest. Visualize a relaxed cow in a meadow. Now you will notice how your spine loosens with each breath.
Seated Twist
Allow your upper body frame to extend and rest for a moment.
-
- Turn sideways in your chair.
-
- Place one hand on the back of the chair for support.
-
- Put your other hand on your knee.
-
- Gently twist your upper body. Look over your shoulder. Remember to breathe deeply as you twist! This effortless rotation has the ability to soothe your spine as well as upper back.
Chair Pigeon (Hip Opener)
Open up your hips with this wonderful stretch. You’ll feel more relaxed in your lower body.
-
- Cross one ankle over your opposite knee.
-
- Let that top knee gently drop open.
-
- You’ll likely feel a good stretch in your hip.
-
- If you are craving a bit more, lean forward a little bit. You’ll feel your hips losing stiffness.
Conclusion
Now that you have already read about these basic moves. Maybe a small voice in the back of your head is saying “It sounds easy and feasible for me”. If this is the case, then we really hope that you will give the yoga chair a chance. It’s an easy way to add more movement, calmness and strength in your life without any need of unnecessary equipment.