The more one looks into Chair Yoga, the more impressed they will likely become. In Chair Yoga one finds a form of Yoga that could be utilized and be of benefit to practically anyone and practically anytime.

The history of yoga goes back more than 5000 years, and at first it was intended for India’s spiritual elite. Bit by bit it spread to all the people. Chair Yoga is fairly new and was first developed in the 1980s by Erika Hammerstrom. One of the beauties of Chair Yoga is not only that no specific equipment is needed (aside from a chair, best with no arms), but that it takes the traditional yoga utilized by the strong, the flexible and the fit and presents a yoga that is great for the less strong, the less flexible or the less fit. The asanas or poses developed are suitable for anyone, particularly those who want to do something about their health and well being but who may find what is often thought as the typical idea of yoga something that they feel they can not do.

The Chair Yoga exercises are gentle movements that could be done either from a chair, utilizing a chair, or just having a chair nearby. These gentle exercises present movements for the feet, legs, arms, hands, back, neck, eyes and even the brain. They gently provide an opportunity for improvement in circulation, breathing, increased mobility and flexibility and even increased brain function.

These chair exercises allow anyone, even someone with restricted mobility (regardless of age or minor physical handicap) to be able to obtain value from yoga. No matter how stiff-joined one may be, the effects of doing these exercises will be improved health, mobility and flexibility, and the risk of injury is slight.

However, these chair exercises can even come in handy for those who DO NOT have restricted mobility. It doubtful that there is anyone who is not confined to a chair at times, be it due to the fact that they have a job that entails a lot of sitting, they are a passenger in a car or plane for a length of time, or they are just waiting for an appointment or an event to start. Gentle asanas or poses like these still make one feel so much better and do not even have to be obvious.

A distinct value of Chair Yoga is its reliance on Pranayama (breath). Far too many individuals in our civilization do not utilize their breath in the manner that can be of the most value to them. Chair Yoga emphasizes the importance of starting the exercise session with breathing exercises and emphasizes the value of proper breathing throughout. The unfortunate truth is that it is all too common, particularly when individuals are starting exercising, for them to actually HOLD their breath, rather then breathing properly during the entire exercise. Emphasizing proper breathing greatly assists in such circumstances.

There are a number of typical Chair Yoga programs:

Foot exercises in general stimulate blood to the feet and legs and some of these easy exercises even help the ankles, calves, backs and hips. These exercises can be easily done by the majority of individuals, both in a class, or even when traveling or waiting. They can even be combined with exercises for the fingers, hands wrists and arms;

Leg exercises can strengthen the legs, knees and hips. Again, exercises could also be combined with exercises for the fingers, hands, wrists and arms;

The exercises for fingers, hands and wrists would be greatly appreciated by those with arthritis or stiffness, as their fingers, hands and wrists are often involved. These exercises focus on developing flexibility in the fingers, hands and wrists;

The exercises for the arms focus in on not only flexing the arms (thereby strengthening the shoulders and chest), but also maintaining suppleness. Exercises for the arms in addition to strengthening, providing flexibility, and/or calmness, could even help the eyes, lungs and heart;

Exercises for the back and/or shoulders not only strengthen and release tension in the back, shoulders, neck and arms, but additionally broaden the chest and stimulate breathing; and

Exercises in which the individual would be standing include either holding the chair, or merely having it nearby. As balance tends to decease as one gets older, either utilizing a chair, or even just having it nearby in case it is needed, can assist many. With individuals who have difficulty with even the most basic maneuvers, the idea of the chair being there can be quit comforting.

Just sitting all the time is not beneficial. However, with Chair Yoga there is a convenient place to start and often the individual will progress to the point that actual Chair Yoga will be just a PART of their practice.

It is again stressed that Chair Yoga can be utilized effectively by just about everyone…if not everyone. For those times that it is practically impossible to get up and walk around when sitting for any length of time, being able to perform Chair Yoga presents a viable option.

As previously stated, it is doubtful that everyone doesn’t find themselves confined to a chair at times. The fact that one can be exercising during this time greatly reduces stiffness, aches and pains. Chair Yoga can afford a pleasurable means toward fitness from which many individuals can profit.