Realistic Expectations for Chair Yoga Students
Firstly, let me make it clear that Yoga is not a "cure" for the
huge variety of ailments that afflict mankind, but it can help
in every area of life. Yoga's strength lies in preventative
medicine, living a healthy life style, and making any current
ailments, more tolerable.
So, the first thing you will gain from a Chair Yoga class is
knowledge. The concepts of good health, longevity, and making
the most of your life right now, are powerful tools taught in
every style of Yoga.
However, Chair Yoga has been developed from many gentle styles
of Hatha Yoga, for those of us who are not so steady on their
feet, and those who cannot get out of a wheel chair. Many
students of Chair yoga remark that they learn so much from each
class.
Nutritional information is sometimes discussed in class. The
Yogic diet is environmentally safe, humane, will keep us all
around for a while longer, and in good health.
The postures and low-impact movements lubricate the connective
tissue, with reduced friction occurring in the joints. This is
great news for "weak links" within the human body, such as:
Knees, hips, spine, shoulders, and more parts that wear out
sooner than we would like.
Toning the body is a result of the stretching and flexing of
muscles that naturally occur in a Chair Yoga class. This also
releases tension, throughout your body, and triggers endorphins.
As a result, students have a feeling of euphoria during and
after a Chair Yoga class.
Massaging the internal organs is a result of bending and
twisting movements that are a trademark of any Hatha Yoga class.
You can expect your digestion and elimination to be improved in
a very short time.
Proper posture is result of focusing on it at all times. Yoga
teachers constantly correct spinal alignment that needs a little
help. Many will verbal cue you without a physical adjustment,
but some teachers are more "hands on." You will notice your
posture change, for the better, right away and your spine will
thank you for it.
Proper breathing helps us deal with stress and oxygenates the
blood faster than the more common "shallow breath." In many
cases deeper breathing will improve high blood pressure. This is
not a guarantee, but deeper breathing has a calming effect on
the mind and body.
Lastly, the many benefits of learning to relax or meditate are
so plentiful that books have been written on the subject. A calm
mind leads to a calm body and Yoga will allow you to make
friends with your body again.
So, if you have a multitude of good expectations about taking a
Chair Yoga class, you won't be disappointed.