When I told a student of mine last summer that my next advanced teacher training would be for chair-supported practice, she was surprised and curious. She attended Dynamic Gentle Yoga Teacher Training when we offered it online during the pandemic while I was guiding and training standing and floor postures–the training included only a short discussion about using a chair. Back then I was still teaching a weekly afternoon gentle class online as well that was standing and floor postures. However, interest in that class waned and I discontinued it while the morning chair-supported class is still going strong. Over this period of time, I have become more passionate about chair yoga.
Why? A number of reasons. Maybe the biggest reason is because of the students I’ve met in the last going-on-five-years in our online Breath Practice Chair Yoga class every morning.
I’m passionate about chair yoga because of who it can reach.
Chair Yoga is for:
Chairs are everywhere, so you can easily teach in many locations and still have access to the most stellar of yoga props, the chair:
As you can imagine, my students have related many stories of the benefits they have experienced. Some of their amazing experiences are related to the pranayama that is a significant part of this class. Many of these students would not have lasted through one class if they had to get down onto the floor to do pranayama. Physical benefits reported have included smoothly recovering from injuries and surgeries, reducing allergic reactions, breathing deeper, a distinct sense of increased breath capacity, lowering high blood pressure, open sinuses for easier nasal breathing both day and night and the ability to enjoy life in new ways like having a heightened presence of conscious awareness through much of the day.
I’ve seen that chair yoga serves a large, varied, diverse and motivated population. I love demystifying the practice of yoga. In this case, demystifying the perception that one has to be flexible enough to sit cross-legged on the floor. Because that discourages people. Sitting cross-legged is possible for some, painful for some and impossible for others. Chair Yoga may be their ticket. They could have a practice and access the deep relief and relaxation that yoga practice affords.
In other words, yoga can have a bigger tent of inclusion when use you a chair for support.
Join me for Dynamic Gentle Yoga Teacher Training–Chair-Supported Practice for four weekends starting January 2025 and learn the secrets to slow yet riveting yoga that brings people effortlessly into meditation. Let’s bring the deeper benefits of yoga to more of the people this year who think they can’t do yoga. All they need is you, a compassionate teacher, with your Dynamic Gentle guidance and a chair.
