For those unable to participate in regular yoga activities, ‘yoga with a chair’ is an opportunity to exercise mobility through a unique method. Using a chair allows one to adapt to each pose at their own level of comfort. This gentle form of yoga is an alternative method to more traditional forms of yoga.
According to Physical Education Professor at Keene State College Donna Smyth ‘yoga with a chair’ is an opportunity for people who are unable to participate in traditional yoga to still be able to gain all the benefits as well as the flexibility, possible muscular strength and balance. Smyth has been at KSC since 1988. She currently teaches physical education courses to those who are studying to become physical education teachers. In addition, she also teaches yoga to non-majors as a credit class.
“It’s my observation that there are folks who would like to practice yoga, but are not comfortable getting down on the floor and getting up as much as a regular yoga class would be. Now that could be because they have limited mobility. It could be surgery, it could be for aging, or many other reasons,” Smyth said, “I wanted to provide folks with all the benefits of yoga, but with a way that would be comfortable with them and their bodies.”
Smyth said yoga is not just about the postures, it’s also about the breathwork, meditation and connecting with oneself.
“They like having the chair as a prop. It’s something to hold on to as opposed to having to sit in it. So the chair for many of my students is used as a prop. A lot of times it’s for balance and a way to be more comfortable,” Smyth said.
Photo Editor / Tim Smith
“I was hoping that through ‘yoga with a chair’ those participants would be able to gain those benefits as well as the flexibility, possibly muscular strength and balance. Giving back as a community service and the joy of doing this is enough for me,” Smyth said.
According to getfitwhereyousit.com, chair yoga can benefit those with weight control, arthritis, heart disease, scoliosis, joint pain, those who have trouble getting to the ground easily and back up and much more. Their website states that everyone has a different degree of flexibility, which is why chair yoga is common amongst those with varying levels of both lower and upper body strength.
The majority of members attending ‘yoga with a chair’ are mainly faculty and staff. Smyth said she hasn’t seen any KSC students at this class. She said she’s seen as little as two people and as many as seven in class. ‘Yoga with a chair’ is open to anyone with the desire to practice yoga at a more comfortable pace, whether that be students or faculty and staff. “I really want this class to be for folks who need it,” Smyth said.
Smyth has offered the class for a couple years now most recently in the fall and summer semesters of 2014. Smyth said the feedback she has received from KSC students and faculty is that they are grateful that they have the opportunity to practice yoga in a way that’s comfortable to them.
“Folks really appreciated that they didn’t have to get into pretzel positions. It works for them. It works for their body,” Smyth said. She said she hopes to see this class come back next spring.
Chair of the general science department at KSC, Sally Jean, was a participant of the yoga with a chair class.
“I have actually hip replacements and some other physical issues for which i could not do regular yoga and yet this gave me the opportunity to still do many of the things and it wasn’t as much stress on my body,” Jean said.
Jean said she has tried traditional yoga before, but prefers this method of yoga better. She is incapable of doing all the rigorous movements in regular yoga, and yoga with a chair provides her the opportunity to do all the same moves at her own pace at a different level.
Not only does yoga with a chair help her flexability and mobility, but it improves her daily routines.
“Donna Smyth is terrific. She allows us to do what we can and doesn’t push us to a point where we feel stressed. It gives those of us who can’t do regular yoga a for one hour a week to have time for ourselves. It’s a wonderful addition my time here and at Keene State,” Jean said.
KSC Yoga instructor Arian Deihim-Panah recently underwent knee surgery and still teachers his yoga class.
“It’s great that we are giving this opportunity to people who many not be able to to traditional yoga. I think everyone should do yoga. If you can’t be on your feet, ‘yoga with a chair’ is a great alternative,” Deihim-Panah said.
Deihim-Panah said students can benefit from any type of yoga, since it’s all about the alignment.
Smyth said that yoga is for all people, not just those who are physically able. It should be accessible to all people no matter what.
“It’s becoming very popular as a way to enhance flexibility, minimize or reduce stress, enhance some corse strength and improve balance. For those who incorporate meditation in their practice it can help with clarity and focus,” Smyth said.
Tara can be contacted at tlevy@kscequinox.com