Daily living is made more difficult by tense muscles, and sedentary jobs make that problem so much worse. Even while growing older will unavoidably cause us to lose flexibility, there are things we can do to slow down the process.
Chair yoga aims to add flexibility and mobility from the seated position, making it a counterbalance to desk sitting. While most people assume you can’t get a good workout sitting down, our experts say otherwise! Chair yoga is safe for all ages and can be very gentle, It also helps with flexibility and posture for people in offices that are usually hunched over at their desks. Our experts say this combats repetitive stress injuries, like carpal tunnel syndrome and arthritis in your lower back.
Our expert recommends beginners engage in the following poses, taking care to take deep breaths through the nose as they move through them.
#1. Warm-up: Sit on the edge of your seat and make circles with your hands and feet.
#2. Cat-cow: Sitting up straight, inhale as you lift your chin and push your chest forward, expanding your chest. On you exhale, mimic a cat by rounding your spine, a movement that stretches the upper back.
#3. Side bends: Put your left hand in the air, lean to the right, and then switch sides.
#4. Twists: Twist your body to one side, hold the pose for three to five breaths, and then switch.
#5. Seated forward bend: To combat shoulder tension, place both feet on the floor, interlace your fingers, raise your hands in the air, and fold forward until your chest is on your knees and your hands graze the floor.
#6. Seated pose: With your feet on the floor and hands resting on your thighs, take several deep, slow breaths