I’m delighted to welcome you to your inaugural chair yoga for beginners session. If you’re seeking a refreshing exercise routine without leaving your seat, you’ve come to the right place.

Finding Your Center: Downward Dog on a Chair

To initiate our practice, let’s focus on achieving an optimal posture before settling into the chair. Imagine transforming your chair into a yoga mat for a modified Downward Dog.

1. Chair Transformation: Turn the chair, offering a side view.
2. Hand Placement: Position your hands at the chair’s back.
3. Leg Extension: Take your legs back, ensuring hip-width distance.
4. Optimal Stretch: Walk your legs back, straightening your arms.
5. Glute Activation: Fire up your glutes by pushing your sit bones toward the back wall.
6. Deep Breath: Inhale, dropping your head between your arms.
7. Adjustments: Modify leg placement for a more profound stretch.
8. Final Touch: Visualize drawing your shoulder blades down as you sit a bit lower.
9. Complete the Move: Exhale and relax. Well done!

Transition to Seated Posture

Now, let’s gracefully transition from standing to seated yoga positions for a holistic experience.

Grounding Yourself

1. Shoe Optional: Best practiced without shoes, but feel free to keep them on.
2. Proper Alignment: Ensure feet are hip-width apart, aligning knees with ankles.
3. Hand Placement: Place the backs of your hands on your thighs, allowing fingers and thumbs to relax.
4. Core Engagement: Activate your abdominal muscles, akin to closing a button on your trousers.
5. Shoulder Alignment: Inhale, drawing shoulders up, back, and down.
6. Gaze Upward: Lift your gaze towards the ceiling as you breathe in deeply.
7. Relaxation Mode: Exhale, gently close your eyes, drop your chin slightly, and allow your breath to flow naturally.

Mindful Breathing

In the midst of our bustling lives, this is your dedicated 10 minutes to unwind and reconnect.

1. Inhalation Technique: Breathe in through your nose or mouth.
2. Stress Release: Let go of daily pressures; this moment is for you.
3. Intention Setting: Consider setting an intention for the next 10 minutes—perhaps increased breath awareness or improved posture.
4. Breath Visualization: Inhale and visualize the breath flowing through your entire body.
5. Exhalation: Release tension with each exhale.
6. Final Moments: Open your eyes, take a final deep breath, and extend your arms overhead.

Neck Mobility Exercises

Now, let’s focus on neck mobility—a crucial aspect often neglected in our sedentary routines.

1. Isolate and Strengthen: Interlace your fingers, placing hands at the back of your head. Strengthen neck muscles by pushing elbows back.
2. Side-to-Side Movement: Place hands on the upper chest. Breathe in and turn your head side to side, maintaining rib cage position.
3. Upward Stretch: Inhale, gaze towards the ceiling, stretching from chin to collarbone.
4. Throat Stretch: Exhale, drop the chin, feeling the stretch in the throat.
5. Lengthening the Neck: Direct your right ear towards the ceiling, stretching the neck. Repeat on the left side.
6. Side Stretch: Inhale, stretch the head out to the side. Exhale, draw the chin in for a double-chin stretch.

Full Body Stretch and Conclusion

1. Full Body Stretch: Inhale, raise your arms overhead. Interlace your fingers, pressing palms into the back of your head. Strengthen neck muscles with controlled movements.
2. Spinal Twist: Cross your right leg over the left, twisting gently to the left. Repeat on the other side.

In conclusion, return to a seated posture, palms together, and express gratitude with a heartfelt “Namaste.” Congratulations on completing your chair yoga for beginners session—see you in the next class!