Hello, friends!
The groundhog saw his shadow and that means an early spring. It seems like he was right on the mark today. It is gorgeous here as I’m writing this especially for February! The sunshine works wonders for my state of mind. How about you? We were made to live in the light-in more ways than one.
One way to improve our mood any day is to get up and move. And it doesn’t matter how old we are or what kind of physical shape we are in. Our Creator made our bodies to feel better when we are moving. Unfortunately, not everyone is able or wants to do a vigorous power yoga class. Those who have replacement joints, problems with balance, trouble getting up and down from the floor, are extremely inflexible, or recovering from an injury or illness may find Chair yoga is one way to maintain range of motion and general health.
Recently, my 86 year old dad’s doctor prescribed yoga or tai chi to help build strength and improve balance. I’m sure my dad never dreamed he would be attending one of my Holy Yoga classes, but when I heard what the doctor ordered, I jumped all over it. I began reading and researching and practicing yoga in a chair myself and was delighted that a complete practice can be done either in the seat of chair or using the chair for a little help with balance in standing poses. I began teaching a class at a local church.
Serendipitously, Holy Yoga was offering a specialty training at just at the right time. I honestly thought I could teach chair yoga without it, but I signed up anyway. Once again, my Holy Yoga people are knocking my socks off with the quality of their training. I am learning soooo much about chair yoga itself and how to help individuals maintain independence as they grow older.
Guess what? I think anyone who can’t comfortably do traditional yoga should give Holy Yoga chair a try. Here are the reasons why:
Mindy Whipple says
Bless your giving heart for starting such a wonderful class! When my Grandparents were in the nursing home there was someone who did physical activity with them and I could see residents come alive when they participated. You are providing them physical and mental stimulation and wonderful fellowship/community after. (Can you hear me applauding you?!)