Yoga is good for everyone. Yet, not everyone can necessarily do it - for different reasons. A common reason that seems to echo from different corners is a commitment to our desktop-bound jobs. Others might have had a recent injury that prevents us from doing the practice. If you find your truth in any of the above categories, fear not: there is a special kind of yoga to the rescue. Enter chair yoga!

What is chair yoga?

That’s simple. Chair yoga is a set of yoga sequences you can do on a chair.

Can we use any chair?

Honestly, no. The chair you use must be sturdy and stable. It should not be rickety.

Can anybody practice chair yoga?

Yes.

How much time does it take?

A little over two hours. Just kidding. 10-15 minutes would be ideal. Of course, you can choose to extend the practice. The good thing about chair yoga is that you can recharge within a short period.

When can we do it?

Chair yoga can be done anytime, anywhere! Wait for an hour at least after a meal, though.

And here we begin the chair yoga sequence:

1. Begin chair yoga with the face

The following yogic exercises will rejuvenate your face, skin, eyes and you!

a) For healthy eyes:

• Press your eyebrows for some time.
• Then, massage the area above and below the eyelids.
• Keep the index fingers in front of your line of vision. Move your left index finger to the left and as you do so let your eyes follow it. Do not move your face - just the eyes. Repeat with the other finger.
• Look at the eyebrows and then the nose for 5-6 times.
• Rotate your eyeballs clockwise and anticlockwise for 4 times each.
• Open your eyes wide and then squeeze.
• Rub your palms and put them on your eyes. Keep your eyes closed for a minute.

b) Face-specific exercises:

• For easing anger: Press and massage jawline with a gentle circular motion.
• For delaying wrinkles and strengthening lips: Pout your lips and smile. Repeat 4-5 times.
• For releasing stress: Puff up your cheeks. Then as you touch the right side of the mouth with your tongue, move your eyeballs upward left. Likewise, as you touch the left side of the mouth with your tongue, move your eyeballs upward right. Don’t worry, you will simply look like a toy bear. Repeat 4-5 times.
• For improving focus and alertness: Make clicking sounds by touching the palette with the tip of the tongue and back.
• For busting stress: Take a breath in. Purse your lips flat out like a duck. Exhale through your mouth while making a motorboat sound.
• For younger looking skin: Place your little finger on the chin, ring finger on the upper lips, middle finger on the sides of the nose, index finger on the eyes, and thumb on your ear, Breathe in. Exhale through the nose and make a humming sound and vibrate your fingers. After a minute or two, remove the fingers from the face. Feel the sensations and gradually open your eyes.

2. Chair yoga stretches

• Neck stretches:

a) Inhale and gently turn your head on the left side. Come back to the center and turn your head to the right side. Repeat 4-5 times.

b) As you inhale, drop your head to the left side and feel the stretch in your right neck muscles. Come back to the center and exhale. Similarly, drop your head to the right side and feel the stretch in your left neck muscles.

c) Look up towards the ceiling and exhale. Then look down and let your chin touch the neck and inhale. Repeat 3-4 times. Now, inhale and rotate your neck clockwise and anticlockwise.

• Shoulder stretch:

Inhale and raise your shoulders and as you exhale, rotate the shoulders in a circular motion. Now, reverse the movement.