Have you ever tried chair yoga?
Did you know that there are entire yoga classes that you can do while sitting in a chair or holding one for support?
Chair yoga has become very popular for people of all ages and abilities. Since the chair offers support and holds you up, it offers accessibility to those who might and normally be able to have a yoga practice.
Yoga in general is a great way to strengthen your muscles while increasing mobility. The more that you keep your body moving, the more mobility you will have. This is especially important as you age. For seniors especially, chair yoga can offer the necessary support to make yoga accessible. If you suffer from joint pain or discomfort when standing too long, but you want to try yoga, chair yoga might be a great practice for you.
That is why we put an entire chair yoga program together called Yoga Start that is designed for beginners. You can check out this program by clicking here.
One chair yoga exercise that we recommend for mobility and strength is calf raises. Calf raises are great for the leg, feet, and ankle muscles. Ina addition, they help to make your feet and legs more flexible, opening up the fascia in the lower body.
We especially recommend trying this exercise to increase calf mobility for seniors.
You can do this exercise while seated in a chair or while standing and holding the chair for support. We demonstrate both of these options and how to do them in the video above.