Hi everyone,I was looking to see if I could find a chair yoga or pilates workout to maintain and hopefully improve my flexibility and movement because I can't manage much (any!!!) standing, mat or equipment work and I discovered a website DoYogaWithMe.com with some excellent yoga videos.
The link takes you to a whole body session of nearly an hours duration, which sounds a lot but you can reduce your repetitions or modify the poses to suit your ability. There are shorter sessions that you can start with if you want. I've done both yoga and pilates in the past but this isn't essential to following the instructions.I tried out the whole body session this afternoon and although I couldn't work at the instructors speed it was perfectly manageable with rests and omitting poses that my body couldn't accommodate. Tired out now, though!
Can't wait until I've committed some of it to memory and can take my chair outside and do it in the garden once spring arrives.
Anyway wanted to share because we talk so much here about the importance of exercise but I, for one, need something I can do on the days that I can't stand/walk/cycle/do hydrotherapy and this seems to fit the bill.
I'm glad you posted this site Jules!!! Seems like a great site, and there are videos for all kinds of yoga, at different durations... I will definitely try some of them.
I have done chair yoga (a different routine) and a yoga routine from prevention mag. website. I have not pushed myself to stretch a lot however my flexibility and strength has improved ALOT. I am very surprised by how much it has improved. I just started small with the easiest parts. I love how adaptable it can be. I am having trouble with my neck (impinged nerves from arth. damage) and if something irritated it I just eliminated that move and added something different. I highly recommend it!
Thanks for posting this, I will add this to my mix!
Thanks for this Jules. I did the first 20 minutes of it this morning, not quite as gracefully as the presenter I might add. Whilst she looked like an eagle flapping its wings, I looked more like a chicken that had its neck half rung. Although in general my shoulders don't give me too much grief, they were burning by the end of the initial routine, but I'm going to persevere.
I go to something at my local leisure centre called chair based Pilates .I initially thought it was called armchair Pilates, but I think that was just wishful thinking. I'm by far the youngest person there as the average age is about 75. But this is cool, because I have a half decent chance of keeping up. Afterwards I go on the treadmill for 20 minutes (walking) and then for for a swimming lesson (where I also look relatively good on account of being the only one who dare stick their head in the water). So Wednesdays are my triathlon morning. I lay on the settee all afternoon lol.
I have a chair exercise DVD, but it isn't yoga. I'll try to remember where I purchased it - it's a site for exercise DVDs that you can return within 30 days if you don't like the DVD,
Sounds like a great idea! You originally asked about both yoga and pilates. I do reformer pilates and it has made a world of difference to my flexibility. It is done on a platform (much like a bed) and you work with pulleys on your feet or hands. Google it or watch a demo on YouTube. I live in a small town and it is available here in semi private sessions so I imagine it is widespread.
Thanks Frances, I did also see a couple of DVD's on Amazon. When you start to look there seem to be a good few exercise options suitable for arthritis and other chronic condition sufferers, especially if you include 'exercise for seniors' in your search bar.
June51, I used to do reformer pilates and loved it, so much so that I had a small floor based unit at home. Unfortunately since PsA struck with vengeance I can't make it up/down off the floor or anything too low and going to classes, even those run at my physio practice is too much pressure on my shoulders and knees.
We had a lovely warm sunny day here on Tuesday and I took my chair out into the garden and did some lovely stretches outside and it felt really good .... as much for the spirit as the body.
I used to work with a gal on the reformer and it was wonderful. The gentle stretching was really nice. Unfortunately, I live in a very expensive area, and most of the pilates studios are in the very wealthy areas. It is too costly now. :-(
June51 said:
Sounds like a great idea! You originally asked about both yoga and pilates. I do reformer pilates and it has made a world of difference to my flexibility. It is done on a platform (much like a bed) and you work with pulleys on your feet or hands. Google it or watch a demo on YouTube. I live in a small town and it is available here in semi private sessions so I imagine it is widespread.