I started teaching chair yoga a few weeks back. It has been the most amazing experience. I have been creative with finding ways to do asanas while sitting or standing with the support of the chair. My student has trouble sitting on the floor, and I wanted her to get the full benefit of paschimottasana (seated forward bend). So, I first asked her to stretch her calves one at a time while standing, leaning forward with both hands holding on to the back of a chair. Once she felt she had stretched her calves enough, she sat on a chair. I placed another chair facing her and asked her to place one foot on it, straight. She then raised her arms above her head and stretched over her leg with her back straight, looking ahead of her. Then she placed her hands on her knee and took a few breaths. Then she rounded her back and relaxed over her leg and slowly came up. She repeated this with her other leg, and after that she placed both legs on the chair and repeated the whole stretch.
I am discovering new ways of doing small segments of the asanas each time I teach chair yoga.
My student gives me feedback instantly about where she can feel the stretch, which muscle is stiff and which asana makes her feel blissful. Her progress since we began has been remarkable.
I am discovering new ways of doing small segments of the asanas each time I teach chair yoga.
My student gives me feedback instantly about where she can feel the stretch, which muscle is stiff and which asana makes her feel blissful. Her progress since we began has been remarkable.
