Making yoga accessible
One of the things I’m passionate about is how yoga can help people be in their best shape, whatever that means for them, both physically and mentally. I’ve worked in health charities for a long time, first in cancer, and now working in respiratory and so I became interested in how yoga can help people manage their condition as best they can. And I’ve seen for myself how yoga can help benefit mental health, reducing stress and anxiety and increasing concentration and focus.
Sometimes we see these images of yoga as people in these perfect postures, super bendy and super balanced but really that’s just not where most of us are. For me, yoga is about finding strength and stillness in body and mind, helping both function as well as they can. And some days are better than others. It’s about the practice rather than aiming for perfection.
During training we learnt how to adapt postures for different body shapes, mobility or long term conditions. Since then, I’ve taken part in an accessible yoga workshop, learning how to use chairs and other props to adapt poses further and allow anyone to practise.
Chair yoga involves modifications of traditional yoga poses, using a chair for support, which could be seated, or sometimes standing using the chair for balance. Using a chair for support, we can focus on different aspects of mobility, going through yoga movements, working on spinal flexibility, but seated, allowing those with fatigue, balance problems, reduced mobility or injury to participate.
Since doing the training I’ve been experimenting with adapting my classes, I’ve also been participating in chair yoga classes myself. What I’ve learnt is that chair yoga isn’t easier, or a cop out - it’s adapted to be accessible. It’s not passive, your body and mind will still be getting the benefits from the pose, however you perform it. Often, using chairs and blocks can help to stabilise and balance your body. That’s why I’ll be using the term accessible yoga or yoga for all, rather than chair yoga.
I’m starting up accessible yoga classes in January, in Old Colwyn Community Centre. Find out more here. I’ll also be running a free taster session in Abergele on Monday 13 December - message me if you’re interested.