Yoga isn’t a fitness challenge.

Most of the movement-oriented group classes I teach are done seated in a chair. It’s not the only way to do yoga, and it’s not the only way I teach yoga.
But, it’s an option that really resonates with what I’ve been taught about what yoga is.

Here’s just one reason I teach yoga in a chair.

Yoga is not exercise.
Yes, the physical practice has exercise benefits; it can help you build muscle strength, improve range of motion in your joints, expand your lung capacity, and more.
But, the purpose of yoga isn’t to get stronger, or improve your cardiovascular fitness, or even to be able to do more intense poses.

You can be an experienced, dare I say advanced, yoga practitioner without ever learning to do a headstand, or without ever being able to do 108 sun salutations in a row, or without being able to hold a plank pose for five minutes.

Incidentally, Ive been practicing yoga for 20 years now and I’ve never done any of these things.

Being an experienced practitioner of yoga is separate from being physically strong, flexible, or adventurous.

The purpose of yoga is to become aware of your inner self.

If we’re strengthening anything it’s the mind-body connection and the patience for self-reflection and self-awareness.

Less Sweat, More Reflection

I teach many of my classes mostly seated in a chair to take the pushing and striving out of the practice.
you’re still doing things with your body, and the way I teach those movements and postures is informed by what physiology and exercise science tells us about safe and beneficial ways to move the body.
But, you’re moving your body to connect with the other parts of yourself, not necessarily to build muscle or go to your maximum range of motion.

So, , to teach these things, I turn to the chair, a piece of furniture that can be used as a tool to support the body.
When the body is supported in ways it needs there’s more room to explore the depth and breadth of experiences that come with being human.