Chair Yoga for Beginners
What you'll learn
- Students will learn the basics of yoga and relaxation techniques with the support of a chair.
- Students will incorporate mindful breathing into their practice.
- Students will learn different modifications for postures to support their personal yoga practice.
Requirements
- Students should be cleared by their healthcare professional to engage in gentle yoga practices.
- A desire to learn tools and techniques for stress reduction and healthy body movement.
Description
Chair yoga is an excellent way to practice yoga for many people who didn't think yoga was possible for them or during periods of recovery. Whether it is because of limited mobility, arthritis, pre or post-surgery, balance issues, or low energy, chair yoga allows people to receive the benefits of yoga while having the chair as a constant companion for support.
In this Chair Yoga for Beginners course, we introduce participants to chair yoga with each class gradually building upon the next.
This course is divided into five different modules:
Introduction: How to get started, safety, and general stuff you'll want to know before getting started.
Seated Chair Yoga Classes: In these yoga classes, we practice in the chair the entire time.
Standing Chair Yoga Classes: In these classes, we typically start and end in a chair but a bulk of the postures are standing, using the chair for support.
Hybrid Chair Yoga Classes: In the chair yoga classes, we start and end in the chair but mix it up doing a good portion of the postures seated and the others standing. These are longer classes.
How To's: While we review how to do postures in all classes, this section lets you see the different variations and modifications for common postures and transitions you will see in class so you can see different modifications. These are great to simply watch or practice to.
You will get access to our downloadable Chair Yoga Planner and Journal to help schedule and reflect on your practice and a recommended product list.
Who this course is for:
- Seniors curious about starting yoga in a safe manner.
- People with health challenges such as hip and knee replacements, arthritis, cancer patients, fibromyalgia, and other conditions who want and kind and compassionate yoga practice.
- Beginners who want to start a yoga practice with extra support and balance of a chair
- Students experiencing back pain.
- For those who have difficulty getting up and down off of the floor.
- For those pre or post opp surgery or injury looking for a gentler practice.
- Current yoga practitioners or teachers interested in learning about chair yoga as a means to deepen the practice or teaching.
Instructor
![Melissa Leger](data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 64 64"%3E%3C/svg%3E){kind=avatar}
- 4.5 Instructor Rating
- 67 Reviews
- 318 Students
- 2 Courses
Melissa Leger is an MBSR (Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction) facilitator and yoga instructor. She works with women, veterans, and the medical community to help decrease stress and incorporate healthier lifestyle habits. As a female veteran, recovering corporate professional, and business owner, she has experienced stress and the challenges it creates in overall health and interpersonal relationships. Through a practical and straightforward approach, Melissa facilitates wellness programs that focus on living fully in the present moment through meditation and mindful movement.
Melissa Leger currently teaches mindfulness to veterans experiencing PTSD at the Road Home Clinic and offers affordable yoga and mindfulness program throughout Chicago through various organizations. She has completed training programs through Mindful Academy International, Bloom Prenatal, Connection Coalition, Sunlight Chair Yoga, and Yandara Yoga Institute. She has been featured in the Chicago Tribune, Female Entrepreneur Association, Veteran’s Path Podcast, and the Tampa Tribune. Melissa has written for Yoga International focusing on bringing a trauma-informed approach to yoga and meditation and focusing on self-care and kindness.
Melissa holds an MBA from the University of Tampa and a BS in Business Management from the University of Tampa. She is the founder of Kindpact.