Chair Yoga: Making the Practice Accessible, Meaningful, and Real

Yoga is often portrayed as something that happens on a mat, in flexible bodies, performing increasingly complex shapes as we "progress." But at its heart, yoga was never meant to be exclusive—or limited to a particular body type, age, or ability.

Chair Yoga brings the essence of yoga back to its original purpose: supporting the well-being of real people living real lives.

What Is Chair Yoga?

Chair Yoga is a form of yoga practice in which poses are done seated in a chair, standing while using a chair for support, or a combination of both. The chair becomes a tool—much like blocks, straps, or blankets—offering stability, safety, and accessibility.

Chair Yoga is not a “lesser” version of yoga. It is a thoughtful, intentional adaptation of traditional postures, breathing practices, and mindfulness techniques so they can be practiced safely and effectively by a wider range of people. The focus on breath, awareness, nervous system regulation, and the benefits of the practice remain fully intact.

Who Is Chair Yoga For?

Chair Yoga is for anyone who might feel left out of typical yoga spaces—or anyone who simply wants a gentler, more supported practice.

This includes:

• Older adults

• People with limited mobility or balance concerns

• Those recovering from injury or surgery

• People living with chronic pain, arthritis, or joint issues

• Individuals with neurological conditions

• Anyone who finds getting up and down from the floor challenging

• Beginners who want to build confidence before moving into mat-based classes

It is also beneficial for people who spend long hours sitting, working physically demanding jobs, or experiencing high levels of stress.

The Benefits of Chair Yoga

Chair Yoga offers many of the same benefits as traditional yoga, while reducing barriers and risk. Some of the key benefits include:

• Improved mobility and joint health through gentle, supported movement

• Better balance and stability, helping reduce the risk of falls

• Increased circulation and energy without overexertion

• Reduced stress and anxiety through breathwork and mindful movement

• Improved posture and spinal health, especially for those who sit frequently

• Greater body awareness and confidence in movement

Perhaps most importantly, Chair Yoga helps people reconnect with their bodies in a way that

feels safe, respectful, and empowering.

Why We Offer Chair Yoga

At Tree of India Yoga, we believe yoga should be accessible to the greatest number of people possible, without losing its depth, integrity, or purpose.

Our choice to offer Chair Yoga reflects a commitment to:

• Meeting people where they are

• Honoring different bodies, abilities, and life stages

• Offering yoga as a tool for real well-being—not performance

• Preserving the heart of the practice while adapting its form

Yoga That Includes, Not Excludes

Chair Yoga reminds us that yoga is not about how deep we can stretch or how advanced a pose looks. It is about presence, awareness, and connection.

When we widen the doorway into the practice, we strengthen our communities. We create spaces where more people feel seen, supported, and welcome.

That is why Chair Yoga matters.

And that is why we offer it.