Lynn Lehmkuhl - Chair Yoga for Seniors

Copyright 2020 by Lynn Lehmkuhl

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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is available on file.

Cover design by Tom Lau

Cover photo credit: Getty Images

Print ISBN: 978-1-5107-5063-0

Ebook ISBN: 978-1-5107-5065-4

Printed in China

For David. My forever partner. 144

Why did I write this book? As popular as chair yoga has become it is still hard to access. There are classes available but they are often limited to facilities that require membership. There are videos on YouTube, but they are unwieldy if you are trying to follow directions while not being close enough to your computer to actually see. And then, of course, there are books. Many of my private clients have asked me, over the years, to recommend a chair yoga book that they could use when on their own. In an effort to be as helpful as possible, I bought all of the chair yoga books I could find and read all of them, seeking the ideal one for seniors specifically. Sadly, I never found one that provides all of the elements that I believe to be essential. Either they are too complicated, use too much yogic vocabulary, have poses too difficult to execute, or are focused on spirituality instead of exercise. I never believed that any of the books I reviewed really understood what was required to motivate seniors to try, explore, and ultimately embrace an ongoing chair yoga practice. This is what led me to write the book that I believe is needed but did not exist until now.

My premise was simple and straightforward. Create a book for seniors that:

Introduces them to easy-to-follow yoga practices.

Presents material in an engaging and personal manner.

Encourages readers to commit to a chair yoga routine.

Reinforces the benefits to be derived from chair yoga.

Create routines for seniors living with various maladies.

My goal for this book is also for readers to have fun. I strongly encourage readers to play music that they love while doing the poses. Music makes everything easier to do! That includes exercise.

I also have a great passion for sharing the personal joy that I experience when practicing yoga. By sharing this adoration, I want to express yogas power of inclusion. Everyone can do it. There is no age, ailment, or body size that cant benefit from it. Yoga in a chair has opened its beneficial practices up to truly everyone. The fear of falling, which is on nearly every seniors mind, evaporates.

While I wrote this book, I felt inspired to include insights regarding the pursuit of a fulfilling a healthy lifestyle that go hand in hand with a yoga practice. I hope that when you read includes:

The advantages of healthy eating.

The benefits of meditation.

The rewards of volunteering.

The power of community and social connection.

My single most important message to you is to move. Set aside time each day to give your body and your mind the attention and care they deserve.

I teach chair yoga to seniors who want or need to exercise while sitting down. The reasons for this are many. From being wheelchair-bound, to physical weakness, a neurological condition such as Multiple Sclerosis or Parkinsons disease, arthritis, balance issues, dementia, and the list goes on as to why many older people can only exercise while seated. Chair yoga is a great way for these people to stay active,

I have been practicing yoga for twenty years, and its benefits have been powerful. It has kept me flexible and strong in both body and mind.

During my many years as an advertising executive in New York City, I always managed to fit a yoga class into my hectic schedule. I traveled all over the country for work and would select hotel locations based on their proximity to yoga studios. The benefits I derived from my practice were an excellent motivator to stay focused and to stay healthy. Early in 2002, I decided to take a 200-hour yoga teacher training course to prepare for my life after corporate America. No small coincidence that the life-changing experience of being in New York City on September 11, 2001 helped guide me toward that decision.

I never looked back on my decision to prepare for my second career. I continued in the advertising industry for ten more years but always had my eye on my future life as a full-time yoga teacher. In 2013, I became increasingly aware of the fastest growing segment of the yoga marketchair yoga. As the Baby Boomer generation was aging, more and more seniors were looking toward sedentary exercise.

The combination of the rapid growth of the senior population along with the ever-increasing desire for health and wellness had led me to my calling: chair yoga for seniors! I sought additional training and found it with the preeminent chair yoga teacher Lakshmi Voelker. Lakshmi tours the country teaching the technique to registered yoga teachers. I was lucky to be able to study with her during her New York City training stint. In 2016, I completed my Adaptive Teacher Training, which is the therapeutic application of yoga. I now work full time serving the senior citizens of New York City. I offer seated low-impact yoga workouts in-home or on-site group sessions at senior homes, assisted living centers, and other organizations.

This book contains simple, easy-to-master techniques and exercises that I often teach to my clients. My hope with this book is to spread that knowledge.

I wrote this book for every senior who wants a better life. Whether you are just starting an exercise program or continuing a lifelong practice, a regular exercise regimen will help you have a better life.

Consensus across all reputable news and medical sources agree that as a senior, engaging in physical activity is the single most important thing you can do to maintain mobility and independence. It will keep your muscles and bones strong, help with weight control and heart health, and aid proper joint function. The more you move, the better your strength and balance will be, and the less likely you will be to fall or lose the ability to perform basic daily functions. This is in addition to other health benefits of regular exercise, such as reduced risks of cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and certain cancers. Exercise even has positive effects on mood and may help improve cognitive function.

Lets get all of the facts out of the way. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, the benefits of physical activity for seniors are many. They include: