Chair Yoga for Seniors: Health Benefits You Cannot Miss!

Why Chair Yoga?

As it sounds, chair yoga is a modified version of yoga practised while sitting on a chair or using a chair for support. This unique method makes yoga more accessible to those who have difficulties with traditional poses.

Recent research studies have supported the benefit of chair yoga exercises for seniors by improving the functional outcome of joint conditions. 

What is so special about chair yoga from regular exercise for seniors?

Well, apart from regular stretching exercises and physiotherapy practices, yoga adds a pinch of mindfulness. 

So, for all those loving seniors who wish to do yoga with some support, chair yoga is the way to go.

Physical Health Benefits of Chair Yoga in Seniors

With this unique, accessible yoga for older adults, the crucial physical activity that you need becomes impactful. It's a balance between different parts of the body, the mind, and overall health.

Some of the plus points in improving senior health with chair yoga are;

1. Physical Flexibility Enhancement

If you think you are not flexible enough to practise chair yoga, then don't worry because choosing to do even simple chair yoga movements will give you flexibility. 

Chair yoga delivers good changes in flexibility once you start doing it regularly. 

Through intentional stretching, it reaches different areas with significant impact. This flexibility helps you improve ease in your daily tasks.

2. Building Muscular Strength

Muscle building sounds so difficult once the ageing process starts. Yes, it's a complex process. 

The body finds it hard to rebuild and repair the destroyed muscle tissues; new tissues are less formed. 

But, with enough movement and exercise, you gain enough to give you the strength you need. Chair yoga movements act as catalysts for muscle development and fortification.

3. Mitigating Pain and Strengthening Pain Management

Many people have different types of body pain and joint pain as they age. If you are one of them, then this is for you!

The gentle movements in chair yoga trigger the release of endorphins - nature's pain-relieving hormones. This also elevates your mood and helps relieve you from the discomfort you feel. Focused breathing and mindfulness, added with chair yoga movements, also help mitigate different body pains.

Release your endorphins and enjoy an active lifestyle through your senior years with yoga. 

• Combating Lower back pain and improving posture

Chair yoga improves back pain by allowing a better posture and reducing tension in the spinal supporting muscles. The spinal balance and mind coordination also improve, reducing the risk of falls, a significant concern among seniors.

• Chronic pain management and Good Quality of Life

A 12-week study by yoga practitioners shows the effectiveness of alleviating chronic pain in seniors. There was an additional improvement in fatigue and overall quality of life.

• Addressing arthritis and joint mobility

Yoga for seniors with arthritis is understandably tricky. That's why chair yoga is perfect for improving bone density, easing pain and reducing stiffness. 

Chair yoga for seniors with arthritis improves pain and reduces stiffness. Research supported this by examining the result of 8 weeks of chair yoga in 50-plus adults.

4. Improving Balance and Coordination

Yes, it's time to throw away that walking stick. Find your balance by adding yoga to your routine. 

This works from the deliberate yet gentle transitions in yoga poses to help you develop spatial awareness and body coordination. The ability to balance with the support of a chair still gives you a sense of balance growth in your brain. It's like the coordination between your body and mind.

5. Providing Restful Sleep Patterns

It's known that yoga helps you calm and relax your mind. Regularly practising your chair yoga routines will give you regular sleep cycles. This happens from the proper engagement and activation of body and mind. 

With yoga, you will find the body-mind balance back, and you will definitely sleep better.

"Chair yoga is a great way to improve flexibility and mobility, and it can be adapted to suit different levels and fitness," says Dr Abhirami, Senior Yoga Consultant at Nirva.

Chair Yoga for Mental Health

The meditative part of chair yoga is a positive turn for mental health. Mindful awareness during breathing, meditation, and stress-releasing movements helps improve your senses. It rejuvenates your inner balance.

Chair yoga is an easy yoga for ageing body cells. Yoga helps in awakening a new inner balance in you.

Here are some of the points where chair yoga will have a positive effect on mental health in seniors;

• Stress alleviation and relaxation through controlled breathing, gentle stretches and mindful movements.
• Uplifted mood and emotional stability in seniors who do chair yoga regularly. They have a reduced feeling of anxiety and an improved capacity to manage emotions.
• Mindful practices involved in chair yoga improve the cognitive function of seniors. It stimulates mental clarity and focus. It improves their decision-making abilities and cognitive health.
• Suppose you participate in community sessions of chair yoga. In that case, you feel a sense of belonging and connection with the community, which helps a lot in dealing with mental stress after retirement.

Yoga is a sense of rejuvenation, and chair yoga is a chance that seniors should not miss to feel this belongingness within themselves and the community.

Get Started!

Apart from the improvements that are visible to you, engaging in yoga in the form of gentle chair yoga gives you extended benefits. It helps improve circulation, reduces blood pressure, reduces body inflammation and targets age-related changes like menopause and arthritis. 

So, what are you waiting for? Grab your chair, and let's start! 

Check out the easiest yoga poses you can practise on chair, put together for you by our yoga experts.  Read here - Step-by-Step Chair Yoga Exercise Guide for Seniors: Poses and Instructions