Back to Basics – An Intro to Chair Yoga

About This Class

This introductory chair yoga class opens with an extended explanation of yoga philosophy — framing the practice as a tool for training the mind and reducing stress — before moving through a carefully sequenced series of seated and standing movements. Students begin with breath awareness and arm-flow warm-ups inspired by tai chi, then progress through seated forward folds, thoracic twists, side bends, and neck stretches. Hip circles and hip-flexor work address common areas of tightness, while grip-strength exercises, finger dexterity drills, ankle circles, and core engagement cues ensure the practice is genuinely full-body. Standing sections introduce Tree Pose and Crescent Lunge dynamically alongside the chair for support, followed by a chair-assisted Downward Facing Dog for spinal decompression and hamstring lengthening. The class closes with a flowing tai chi-inspired standing sequence, a brief forward fold, and a seated body-scan meditation with a traditional Namaste closing. Throughout, the instructor emphasizes breath as the anchor for mindfulness, offers multiple variations, and explicitly cues lower-belly engagement to protect the lower back. The overall tone is warm, philosophical, and deeply inclusive.