Chair Yoga Precautions for Students

By Sangeetha Saran

Yoga is a practice that yields great benefit, no matter your age. Thanks to the rising popularity of chair yoga, even seniors with limited mobility can experience the conditioning and strengthening effects of this ancient practice. With modification comes new considerations, and there are some special precautions yoga instructors should keep in mind when teaching this style of yoga.

Chair yoga is still yoga, and many of the same contraindications may apply. The yoga instructor must be notified of health issues such as high blood pressure, heart disease, arthritis or joint problems in order to keep their students safe. Hip replacements are especially important for yoga instructors to be aware of prior to starting the modified practice. A senior may not give their artificial hip a second thought, but it will have an impact on their yoga practice.

There are a variety of different chairs out there that may be used for chair yoga, and this is part of the exercise’s appeal. However, there are certain qualities that make some chairs better props than others. In addition to being perfectly stable, the ideal chair will have just the right amount of padding in order to make sitting for a prolonged period of time comfortable. Chair placement is as important as the choice of chair itself. A flat, level, nonskid surface is ideal for chair yoga.

When seniors are performing chair yoga, teachers need to put extra emphasis on body awareness and grounding. We might not consciously realize it, but the possibility of losing our balance and falling over goes a long way to keep us aware of how our bodies are responding to an activity. When this threat is removed, it is easier to ignore the subtle signals the body gives. To be more enlightened about Chair Yoga Precautions for Students visit www.yoga-teacher-training.org.