By Jenny Schero, CACB Yoga Instructor
When people hear “chair yoga,” they sometimes assume it’s yoga for people who “can’t do real yoga.” I want to change that thinking right now. Chair yoga isn’t a lesser version of yoga — it’s yoga that meets you exactly where you are.
What Is Chair Yoga?
The chair isn’t a limitation — it’s a tool that opens up possibilities. Chair yoga uses a sturdy chair as a prop to support your practice. You can do poses while seated in the chair, standing and using the chair for balance, or a combination of both. We work through many of the same movements and breathing techniques as mat-based yoga, just modified to make them accessible and safe for more people.
Who Benefits from Chair Yoga?
Here’s the short answer: everyone.
The longer answer? Chair yoga is particularly helpful if you:
- Deal with balance issues, joint concerns or limited mobility
- Are recovering from an injury
- Want to maintain strength and flexibility as you age
- Work at a desk all day and need relief from sitting
- Feel intimidated by the idea of getting down on a floor mat
- Want to learn techniques you can use daily to improve your well-being
- Simply prefer this style of practice
The Real Benefits
The physical benefits are significant. We work on:
- Flexibility through gentle stretching that doesn’t require you to fold yourself into a pretzel
- Strength by holding poses and moving against resistance
- Balance both while seated and standing with support
- Circulation through movement and breath work
- Posture by bringing awareness to alignment
But the benefits go beyond the physical. Each class provides tools you can use daily to improve your mindset, balance and well-being. The breath work we practice helps calm anxiety. The mindful movement creates space for reflection. The community in class reminds us we’re all on this journey together.
An Invitation
My ideal student is someone willing to try this practice with me. That’s it. That’s the only requirement.
At the end of each class, I’m truly grateful for the opportunity to share my practice and I honor the practice in each of my students. Chair yoga isn’t about what you can’t do. It’s about discovering what you can do, right now, exactly as you are.
Your first class is free. Come see what chair yoga can do for you!
Jenny Schero teaches chair yoga on Wednesdays at 1 p.m. at the Creative Arts Center, 200 W. 5th Street in Bonham. Classes are suitable for beginners and intermediate levels.