First presented to the fitness world as a adapted version of hatha yoga for people with health implications as well as the elderly, chair yoga has gained many new fans. With the amount of time that people sit at their desks, sit in their cars or travel on long-haul flights, there is a movement to bring increased circulation as well as exercise into our daily routines. Enhancing flexibility, relieving cramps and stiffness, in addition to creating a happy mental state are a few benefits which chair yoga is able to provide for our bodies.
What Is Chair Yoga?
In the same way manner that the body moves through flows of motion as well as increased flexibility during cycles of traditional yoga, chair yoga also implements this practice.
Almost any traditional yoga pose or move may be replicated and altered to in order to accommodate chair yoga. Along with improved ranges of motion through holding poses on a chair, pranayamas (also known as breathing techniques) are a popular practice within chair yoga and can assist in reducing anxiety, introducing or practising meditation, in addition to creating spatial awareness.
Increased Strength
This means that elderly people – as well as other people who practise chair yoga – will be better able to carry on with hobbies and day-to-day activities independently for many more years to come. If they are unfortunate enough to undergo a fall or injury, a strong body will be able to withstand this better and suffer fewer injuries.
Improved Flexibility
The ability to bend, twist, stretch as well as move freely is vital for more than doing yoga. It gives you the opportunity to do the things that you need to do in addition to engaging in the activities that you love. Although some people make the assumption that a loss of flexibility is inevitable as they get older, they’re mistaken. With flexibility, the rule of thumb is ‘use it or lose it’. By gradually challenging your body with chair yoga, you can really increase your flexibility as well as improve your mobility.
Better Proprioception
Doing yoga usually means shifting effortlessly from one pose to another. Shifting from one pose to another develops your proprioception. What is proprioception? It’s your capability to accurately sense where your body is in space. With improved proprioception, your coordination improves. In addition, your risk of falling lessens.
Reduced Stress And Enhanced Mental Clarity
Chair yoga can minimise the impact of chronic illnesses as well as pain. For elderly people, chair yoga may also help them to cope with feelings of isolation, if this is a challenge. Being calmer as well as more relaxed inevitably leads to a greater feeling of happiness and well-being, which everyone can benefit from.
Better Sleep
Maintaining a regular exercise routine is generally associated with better sleep. Chair yoga is no exception. The force of this exercise can help to ensure that you are ready to rest, and the associated reductions in stress and pain can help to reduce the chance that these disruptive discomforts will interfere with your capacity to get a good night’s sleep.
Contact Trifocus Fitness Academy
If you want to learn how to teach people the ancient exercise form of yoga then you need to do our Yoga Certification Course. For more information about this – as well as our other fitness courses – please follow this link.
