Chair Yoga Lesson Plan Bundle II

Hi, my name is George Watts. I’m a BWY yoga teacher and creator of the Chair Yoga Lesson Plan Bundle II. The bundle includes 10 chair yoga lesson plans that I’ve personally used for my own chair yoga classes. 

Each of the 10 chair yoga lesson plans have a “yoga teacher version” (long version with teaching directions) and a “student practice sheet” (short version for your students and for you take into class to teach from).

Chair Yoga Benefits

The chair replaces the yoga mat and becomes an extension of your student’s body allowing them to take full advantage of yoga’s mind, body and spirit workout. Your students will learn to enjoy being on a chair and not see it as a limitation.

Chair yoga for office workers

Most employees spend over 6 hours sitting at a desk doing their jobs.

Sitting has been described as the new smoking due to the poor health that results from prolonged sitting. If office workers did a little chair yoga every 30 minutes, their mind and body would remain alert and flexible. That would result in production and job enjoyment going up, and absenteeism due to illness/fatigue going down.

Chair yoga for people with arthritis

Arthritis causes pain, stiffness and swelling in or around joints.

This can make it hard for people to do a traditional yoga class (getting up and down off the yoga mat is not good for arthritis).   A regular practice of chair yoga can strengthen the body and reduce pain and stiffness.

Chair yoga for people with chronic back pain

Studies have shown that a regular yoga practice reduces the frequency and severity of chronic pain.  Yet, for people with chronic back pain, traditional yoga is not an option. Chair yoga also helps reduce the frequency and severity of chronic pain.

Chair yoga for people with diabetes

Diabetes is an epidemic. Approximately 5% of the population UK, Europe and USA have diabetes. Unfortunately millions of people are walking around unaware they even have the disease. Practicing chair yoga can result in better blood sugar control.

Chair yoga for people with disabilities

According to the Department for Work & Pensions there are over 11 million people in the UK with a limiting long term illness, impairment or disability.

The prevalence of disability rises with age. Around 6% of children are disabled, compared to 16% of working age adults and 45% of adults over State Pension age.  Chair yoga helps disabled people who are wheelchair bound increase their self esteem so they can tackle the extra challenges they face.

Chair yoga for people with osteoporosis

Chair Yoga can slow down (and sometimes reverse) conditions such as osteoporosis (a disease of bones that makes them fragile).

Chair yoga for people who are overweight

Approximately 60% of the UK, Europe and USA are overweight (30% are obese).

Most people are fully aware of the dangers of being burdened by extra weight (heart disease, diabetes, cancer, high blood pressure, etc). Unfortunately the majority of people go searching for the latest diet or quick fix solutions to lose weight and that is where yoga can help.  A regular chair yoga practice helps to support a lighter life (physically and mentally).

Chair yoga is a great exercise alternative for people who are overweight as it helps to increases muscle tissue which in turn helps to raise metabolic rate. Chair yoga also reduces stress which in turn reduces comfort-eating.

Chair yoga for seniors

The UK, Europe and US are all facing an increasing challenge in caring for the aged due to the Baby Boomers.

Falls are the leading cause of injury-related deaths in older adults, which is where the “chair yoga workshop” comes to the rescue! Doing yoga on a chair is fun and challenging when practiced in a group setting. There is a myth that chair yoga is too easy, but even able bodied people who practice chair yoga (if they are doing it correctly) will feel they’ve had a “challenging workout”.