Core Awakening – Chair Yoga for Breath and Balance

About This Class

This 53-minute chair yoga class with Angie Maguire places diaphragmatic breathing at the very center of every movement, repeatedly reminding students that "the breath is the priority." The class opens with a seated cat-cow variation called "bending bear," then progresses through detailed leg work — including internal and external hip rotations (pigeon-toed and penguin), bird dog extensions, and side-leg reaches — paired with coordinated arm movements to build full-body integration. A playful, brain-engaging sequencing game ties the individual movements into a flowing pattern that challenges coordination and focus. Seated sun salutations (upward salute, forward fold, half flat back, chest press, and oblique dips) form a moving meditation, followed by targeted hand and wrist mobilization for arthritis prevention. The class then transitions to standing balance work at the chair: single-leg balance with knee lifts, hip circles, high lunge stepping, and tandem (tightrope) balance. Standing bird dog and pyramid stretch (parsvottanasana-inspired) provide hamstring lengthening and spinal decompression. The class closes with downward-facing dog at the chair, gentle heel raises, a grounding breathwork tool for daily stress, and a seated Savasana with a closing mudra sequence — thumbs to third eye, fingers to lips, hands to heart.