The power of yoga - on your mat or in your chair!

When an opportunity to challenge myself presents itself, either in my own personal practice or in a teaching capacity, I almost always take it on. Such was the case when I was recently invited to teach yoga at a conference in Rhode Island. As more details came to light, I realized that I had agreed to teach a section on "Transformation from Within" with the main focus being on yoga postures that can be done sitting in a chair. As I began researching "chair yoga" I was blown away by all of the articles and material that resulted from my google search. I was able to put together almost a full class for my seated friends (only without all of the "funky" transitions that I normally sprinkle in to keep things interesting!)

I had absolutely no idea what to expect - were these people with physical or mental limitations? Or were they just so busy working at a desk all day that they couldn't find time to exercise? I came to find out that it was neither really. They were people who worked at a desk all day and just needed some sort of release; something to ease tense necks and anxious minds, something to help keep them energized and focused throughout the day. They were just as much in need of yoga and just as capable as all of my students and friends who have the luxury of making it to their mats on a regular basis, only my new friends needed something different than one 60-90 minute experience. They needed to learn how to practice yoga throughout the day, when their eyes could no longer focus on a computer screen and their shoulders needed to be chiseled away from their ears. And even though my new friends practiced almost entirely in their chairs, they still had to work through mental and physical challenges and they still had to remain present and focused on breath, presenting the same opportunity for growth and observation as my regular vinyasa classes.

In the same way that a mat-based class warms up, peaks, and cools down, all the while challenging students' minds to relax and anxieties and stresses to lessen, so did this chair yoga class. We were a bunch of blissed-out yogis leaving that conference center on Friday evening... but there were no mats, no "yoga clothes", no expectations. I was once again reminded of how yoga is SO MUCH MORE than just physical exercise. It's a complete experience, whether you're sitting at your desk, stuck in traffic, running errands, or on your mat. It's a time for you to focus solely on uniting your mind, your body, and your breath. No matter where you are, you can always bring a little more yoga into your life and move through your experiences with a little more openness in body and mind and a greater appreciation for your self and for all of your blessings.