Chair & Wheel Yoga: Accessible Practice for Every Body

Why Props Matter

In my thirty years of teaching, I have learned that the most 'advanced' practice is one where you feel safe. Props like chairs and yoga wheels are not crutches for the weak. They are intelligent extensions of your body.

Chair Yoga: Support and Precision

We use industrial chairs in the shala to stabilize the body, allowing us to hold postures longer and breathe deeper. For beginners or those with mobility restrictions, the chair provides a stable base for poses like Salabhasana (Locust Pose) or Bhujangasana (Cobra Pose). It gives you the geometry of the pose without the fear of falling, allowing you to focus entirely on alignment and spinal elongation.

Wheel Yoga: Opening the Spine

The yoga wheel is my favorite tool for chest and shoulder opening. It matches the curvature of your spine, helping to release the stiffness that builds up from hours of sitting. We use it to gently ease into backbends and to build core stability, which is essential for safely progressing toward more complex asanas.

A Practice for Everyone

Whether you are practicing with me here at the Mysore shala or joining my online sessions from across the world, my goal is the same. We focus on:

• Safety: Using supports to prevent strain.
• Depth: Learning to move into your joints without force.
• Community: Getting stronger as a group, supporting each other's progress.

If you have been avoiding yoga because of back pain or stiffness, this is exactly where you should start.