The North Shore Times

Not such a stretch

Chair yoga can help older residents improve their mobility and confidence, says teacher

Can you perform yoga exercises while sitting on a chair?

Just ask Brendan O’Connell, whose active days might have been ended by a broken hip if not for the fact his daughter happens to teach chair yoga for seniors.

The St Ives 88-year-old, who had enjoyed a good hour’s walk a day, found he didn’t have the strength he used to after time in hospital and rehabilitation.

He found that most exercise classes were performed either standing or sitting on a mat. Standing for more than two minutes was too challenging, and he didn’t want to be floor bound, as he couldn’t get up with any dignity. Enter his daughter, Paula. After joining her classes he says” “I’m now back doing my daily walk and feel as fit as I was before I broke my hip.”

“I am less fearful of falling again as chair yoga also takes us through exercises wher ewe balance with the support of a chair,” said Mr O’Connell. who also still does some work as a chartered accountant.

“Dad had stopped driving, walking and was thinking, ‘I’ve got really old.’ That’s where he was going mentally,” said daughter Paula, a business consultant and keen yoga practitioner for 20 years.

“The confidence Dad got was amazing. He is back driving and has just got his licence renewed.”

“Chair yoga takes the traditional poses (or asanas) and adapts them for the chair. Our students do sun salutations and even downward dogs (a sort of harbour bridge body shape) all from a seated position.”

“Our students tend to be people who used to be active playing tennis or golf, but find that playing these sports is no longer available to them.”

Chair yoga classes run every Thursday at 11am at St Ives Community Hall on the Village Green.

By Doug Conway, The North Shore Times, 31 May 2018 p25