Yoga from the comfort of your chair

When you picture people practicing yoga, do you imagine impossibly supple, young people bent into all sorts of shapes no human should be able to get themselves into?

If so, then you’d be surprised to hear that yoga can be incredibly beneficial for people with mobility issues including elderly people and those with disabilities. What’s more, yoga can be practiced from the comfort of your own home and in fact from the comfort of your own chair! See the following infographic with some poses to try! Yoga has been shown to improve overall health, prevent and even in some cases reverse disease when practiced regularly as a lifestyle. With this in mind, it’s no surprise that it can therefore lends its benefits to those with mobility issues. We have provided some examples of yoga poses and postures that can be done from the comfort of a chair covering a range of abilities. These postures all promote flexibility and strength, but here is a more detailed breakdown of just how yoga can help those with mobility issues:

1. Improved strength, which can mean that elderly people are able to continue with hobbies and daily activities independently for many more years to come. If they are unlucky enough to suffer a fall or injury, a strong body will be able to withstand this better and sustain fewer injuries.
2. Improved flexibility, which can mean those with mobility issues are able to undertake activities they have perhaps been unable to, such as reaching down to tie shoe laces or pick things up.
3. Improved proprioception, the skill of knowing where your body is in space and coordinating your movements accurately. This is particularly important for elderly people and can prevent falls. For people with disabilities or conditions such as MS it may mean having greater control over your body and it’s movements.
4. Reduced stress and improved mental clarity, which can lessen the impact of chronic illnesses, pain and for elderly people it may help them cope with isolation if this is a problem. Being calmer and more relaxed inevitably leads to a greater feeling of happiness and wellbeing, which everyone can benefit from!
5. Opportunities to meet people and socialise can come from attending an appropriate yoga class. Classes for those with mobility issues and the elderly will have specific knowledge about what is appropriate for you to do and be able to suitably adapt the exercises. Being in a group of similar people is a great way to get out and make friends.
6. Breath work can help people not only with stress management but also for managing pain. Through meditation and paying attention to your breath, you can help your body and mind to cope with the pain of an illness or condition you may suffer with.

The great thing with yoga is that it can be adapted to suit anyone’s needs and the aim is to work with your body rather than against it, therefore ruling out any competitiveness, which can lead you to push yourself too far and do yourself harm. It’s an effective and gentle way to improve your strength and flexibility in a way that can compliment your current medical interventions, therapies and exercises. With regular practice, you will soon be reaping the benefits.

Special thanks to Multiyork  www.multiyork.co.uk