LOS ANGELES YOGA HISTORY

‘Chair yoga’ right fit for every body

LEXINGTON, Ky. — The tiger, fish, dog, and bird — you’d think it would be impossible to keep these animals in a chair. But Teresa Thompson manages every week.

The animals are actually names of Yoga poses that have been modified so that they can be done in a chair instead of on a mat. Dubbed “chair Yoga,” the exercises cater to people who have limited range of motion, such as those who are pregnant or in wheelchairs.

“I walk three miles a day, but it’s not half as good as Yoga,” said Elmer Brewer, 73, who participates in the weekly chair yoga class held at the Lexington Senior Center. “You’re never too old to start.”

Chair Yoga poses draw from Hatha Yoga postures, a common form of yoga. Thompson modified common mat poses, such as “up dog” and “down dog” postures, for a chair. Soft music is played while participants stretch in a dimly lit room. Thompson encourages participants to sit tall and concentrate on their breathing. Every so often Thompson and participants say “namaste,” a Hindi word that means “I honor the divine in you,” Thompson explained.

“Not everybody has to be an athlete” to experience the benefits of Yoga, she said. Thompson took her first yoga class when she was experiencing menopause. The regular practice eased discomfort from old injuries and arthritis.

“Yoga is a life-altering experience,” Thompson said.

She wanted to pass that to a broad range of people, including those who may have suffered injuries, have weight issues, or have limited range of motion due to age, Thompson said. While she works toward Yoga Alliance national certification through the Cincinnati Yoga School, she has been teaching chair Yoga at Latitude Artist Community for four years and at the Lexington Senior Center since last fall.

Sometimes performing Yoga on a mat could be dangerous for people if their muscles are not developed, Thompson said. In the case of Melissa Amaral, 37, mat yoga would be impossible because she uses a walker. However, chair yoga at Latitude has helped her become flexible and more coordinated. When she walks, she noticed she doesn’t look “so shaky or jolty,” she said. She used to lean a lot to her left side, but doesn’t do that anymore.

“It helps me relax,” she said. “It gets stress away. It helps my body and mind.”

More than physical benefits, Thompson emphasizes nurturing the spirit. That’s why she encourages participants to say “namaste.”

“It’s a very powerful word and I believe they sense it,” Thompson said. “They know there is a spiritual love inside the word. ... It helps them feel comfort and love.”