Who is Chair Yoga for? – Chair Yoga Fitness

Vitamin D, a part of your fitness journey…

Vitamin D, a part of your fitness journey, from Walking is Fitness

My summary from the Walking is Fitness by Dave. A daily 10 minute podcast meant to bring you that fitness link to encourage you to walk daily with Dave 10 minutes a day. I am trying to recall from my memory topics covered in that 10 minute podcast.

I Dave’s Walking is Fitness podcast, I recently listened to him talk about the benefits of walking and getting your “sunshine” vitamin. Vitamin D. Dave has this great podcast and YouTube channel, where he talks about his journey for using Walking is Fitness, intentional walking for his fitness journey. Feels like a friend talking to you, as you walk. Great motivation! Keep it up Dave!

What I’ve been doing, in addition to teaching chair based fitness, is a daily Seokmun-Hoheup Breathing and Meditation practice, along with walks, and hanging out on my Egoscue Tower for managing my scoliotic back. Keeps my daily chronic back pain at a minimum.

Part of my mental game is using my manual typewriter to collect my collected thoughts onto paper.

Here’s my mother’s 1934 #Underwood #PortableTypewriter There are a few things I need to fix on it as a loose ruler, and a set of new rubber feet. And then learning how to adjust that Capital Letters to be aligned with the lower case letters. But it’s a good “type”.

Join me on my YouTube channel for your seated fitness or your gentle yoga for easing back pain. I am not a doctor, or licensed nutritionist. Just sharing what I learn onto you good folk.

Here’s my latest gentle yoga class. I mix it up with on the floor, seated on the chair, standing behind the chair. Most movements can be done seated on the chair! #SeatedChairFitness #SeniorFitness

Easy to do yoga movements to ease back pain. You don’t have to be a pretzel to do yoga! Yoga with Gail.

A bit of office yoga for you! With Gail P-B.

Chair Yoga Fitness #chairyogafitness with Gail. Reduce stress, ease back pain with chair yoga! — Mountain, Half Moon, Seated Twist, Cat/Cow, Sciatica Soother, Chest Expansion/Joint Mobility, Seated Revolved Twist, Warrior II, Triangle/Pyramind, Lunge Warrior/DownDog, Dancer/Tree, Upper body mobility/Cow Arms, Breathing/Counted Breath on the chair!

Mountain, Half Moon, Seated Twist, Cat/Cow, Sciatica Soother, Chest Expansion/Joint Mobility, Seated Revolved Twist, Warrior II, Triangle/Pyramind, Lunge Warrior/DownDog, Dancer/Tree, Upper body mobility/Cow Arms, Breathing/Counted Breath on the chair!

Great poses to do in the office environment. Allow movement in the body on a regular basis, and avoid repetitive stress challenges in working at the desk for long periods of time

Chair Yoga Fitness with Gail P-B.

A demonstration of Warrior II posture seated on the chair with dynamic tension running from the hips through the soles of the feet. Contraction of the shoulder blades towards the spine, helps to strengthen the upper back, while a mild twist over the leg toward the front to the chair engages the core in an oh, so interesting way.

We occasionally do some of our warrior postures seated upon the chair, for a bit of variety. On this day, twenty-two of us proceeded to do seated spinal balance, warrior II, reverse warrior, and extended side angle. Sometimes we do these postures also standing, with the chair in front of us. Love using the chair as a yoga prop. Chair Yoga Fitness with Gail P-B.

Yoga brings unlikely yogis together!

September 8, 2011

Gail demonstrating the piriformis bounce exercise to get the hip musculature ready for seated pigeon pose. #chairyogafitness — Seated Pigeon on the chair with Gail

Port Arthur News article about…..Yoga brings unlikely yogis

Brandon Janes The Port Arthur News NEDERLAND — At the end of her class, Nederland yoga instructor Gail Pickens-Barger asks her students to meditate on how they are unique and “there is nobody like you in the universe.”

Her students suffer from multiple sclerosis, a chronic, unpredictable disease that affects the central nervous system, and none of their symptoms are exactly the same.

Some of her students experience episodes of extreme numbness in their limbs.

Chair Yoga for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society - Beaumont and Nederland Texas with Gail Pickens-Barger — **Chair Yoga for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society – Beaumont and Nederland Texas with Gail Pickens-Barger**

“It is as if you put a giant foam block around your leg or foot,” Pickens-Barger said.

**Guided rest and relaxation during the Chair Yoga class taught by long time instructor, Gail Pickens-Barger. #chairyogafitness**

For some, the disease affects their balance or, in Crystal Chauvin’s case, a day-long jolt of electric pain down her cheek.

All of the students seem to share in one thing: The relief and relaxation of yoga.

“It helps me move better, helps me balance,” said Becky Dry, who has dealt with the disease for much of her life.

“The class helps us get through the day,” added Dry. “I’m ok now but tomorrow I may not.”

Approximately 400,000 Americans suffer from multiple sclerosis and every week 200 more people are diagnosed with the disease, according to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.

There is no known cause or cure for MS. It is only fatal in extreme cases.

MS adaptive yoga is done in chairs for safety but, as Pickens-Barger points out, it can still make you sweat.

“Keep it between easy and ouch,” Pickens-Barger said during one of the stretches. “Far, far away from ouch.”

Pickens-Barger just got back from a two week long chair-yoga training in New York City, where she learned new techniques to allow her students to access the benefits of yoga without completely exhausting their bodies.

One of the biggest problems for people who suffer from MS is balance. Most of the students use a cane or a walker to get from one place to another.

The yoga techniques are designed to strengthen a person’s core muscles which help them balance whether they are sitting down or standing up.

Just as important as the benefits of the exercise and strength-building, is the sense of community and friendship the class brings to each other’s lives.

“It’s a support group also,” said Pickens-Barger.