Oncology Yoga practices rely on yoga props to ensure a class is safe and effective. A chair is one of these valuable props and can support a participant periodically or permanently through their yoga practice.
Individuals that could benefit from using a chair include:
- Those that have lost mobility.
- Suffering from serious fatigued.
- Is afraid of falling.
- Someone that is just curious.
- Wheelchair bound or have other limitations.
How to use the “chair” as a yoga prop:
- Be familiar with the chair.
- If an armless chair, note the space to hold onto the seat.
- If a wheelchair, note brakes, foot, and armrests.
- Have other props handy: blocks, blankets, belt. Especially for under feet or on the seat for proper leg adjustments.
Things to consider and queueing suggestions:
- Sit forward. Away from the chair back but yet still stable.
- Encourage postures with symmetrical sitz bones support (avoid cross-legged postures that could bring an imbalance to the sitz bones)
- Maintaining good posture is essential when moving in a chair.
- Keep an elongated spine and gaze forward to minimize compression on the cervical spine
- When doing rotations, keep both sitz bones well connected to the chair
- If there is a goal or intention to practice without a chair in the future (after an injury or whilst building strength), encourage visualization of achieving that goal.
- No matter how subtle, move the spine in all 5 directions: extension, flexion, rotation lateral flexion, and elongation.
- Teach forward folds instead of forward bends.
- Return to the center after each movement and secure the pelvis.
- Engage lower body consciously.
- Strengthening practices are needed. Be creative.
- Slow movement always.
Things to avoid:
- Never look up at the ceiling, rather elongate the neck front and back equally. Encourage the student to pull their chin back.
- Avoid rounding the back forward when sitting and letting the head drop.
- Avoid deep forward bend action. This compromises a fragile spine.
- Avoid over-extension of the back leg in the Warrior I pose. This creates compression of the lumbar spine on one side of the sacrum
- Avoid unequal hip alignment. Sit on both sit bones.
- Avoid long holds.
- Keep one foot grounded at all times. Do not extend both legs at the same time.
- Avoid deep back bends supported by the chair (Iyengar style).