FAQs

How do I prepare for each session?

Sit comfortably in your desk chair, low back well-supported, thighs parallel to floor, feet flat on floor (or on stacked books for us shorties!), hands resting on lap. If you're in a busy, noisy environment, find a headset with earbuds or ear cushions to tune out some of the background interruption. Sweep the clutter off your desk is it's a distraction. If you need to squint or lean in to see the screen, adjust the font size or move the monitor closer to you.

Sit up straight- use your spine! Most of us tend to sit with our heads jutting out toward the monitor. Imagine there is a string hanging from the ceiling that attaches to the crown of your head, guiding you to sit as straight and tall as you can, pulling your spine long from tailbone all the way up to that back of your skull. Your back may not be resting against the chair at this point, but that's okay, use your belly muscles to support your torso. If you get tired, or your back starts to ache, you can lean back against the chair. You will build up stamina the longer you practice. You'll find that in this position your head is evenly centered over your shoulders, chin drawn back slightly. Perfect posture!

 *You may want to read or at least skim through the list of instructions before you begin so that you know what to expect.  Note the number of instructions so that you continue to scroll down until the end. Also be careful if your chair has wheels!

How long is each session? About 5-10 minutes, always ending with quiet deep breathing. Don't skip the breathing exercise! It is the most important and also easiest way to calm your overworked mind.

What should I expect from each post?  Once a week, usually each Monday, you will find in your email inbox a new inspirational post along with a brief (about five to ten minutes long) yoga series that you can do right at your desk. That's right, you don't even need to get up out of your chair. The results: a calm, focused, awake, alert mind, happy, relaxed, gently stretched muscles, and improved all-over circulation. You'll do that same yoga series for all five days each weekday in order to build stamina, familiarize yourself with poses, find greater peace by the end of the week (just when you need it most!) as the repetition allows "body/muscle memory" for easier flow through the routine.

What exactly is yoga? Yoga has ancient roots as a Hindu discipline or philosophy, but here in the West, hatha yoga is more accurately described as the regulation of breathing by exercises consisting of various postures designed to maintain healthy functioning of the body and to induce mental calm.

I have a medical condition. How do I know that chair yoga is safe for me? The standard disclaimer is that you should check with your doctor before you begin any new exercise program. Chair yoga is very safe for all ages, body types, and levels of health. Be sure to stay firmly seated and to avoid using a chair with wheels if you have issues with balance or dizziness.

I am pregnant. Can I do chair yoga? The short answer is yes, but of course the disclaimer is to ask your doctor first if you have never done any yoga before. Our sessions will not include the deep backbends and inversions that need to be avoided during late pregnancy. One caution is when twisting the upper body, do so from the shoulders only, not the belly.

I have a lot of energy today and I want to stand up! What other yoga poses should I try? Well, good for you! While a quick YouTube search will lead you to a variety of yoga videos, you can also check out the links in the sidebar for more yoga practice ideas.

What if I feel jumpy and distracted? How will sitting quietly help me? When you're feeling overwhelmed, take a break! Calm, focused breathing can help ease the fight or flight response, including lowered heart rate, blood pressure, and muscle tension.

So is chair yoga for lazy people? Paying attention to your breathing and the slow, controlled movements of each posture will take more work than you think.

Will this exercise replace my 2 hour gym workout? Maybe not replace, but definitely supplement, since clearly you are a hard, driving, Type-A person who could use a break sometimes! Chair yoga is also great for those days when you are not feeling 100%.

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