Bend & stretch with iso friendly chair yoga

GemLife Woodend resident Julie Ritchi, a fully-qualified yoga instructor, believes yoga is for everyone and something that can be easily incorporated into residents’ daily routines, even when ‘staying at home’.

Julie, who started a seated yoga class for Woodend residents shortly after moving to the resort, has adapted to the current coronavirus times by creating a program of simple, gentle, stay-at-home chair yoga poses that anyone can try at home.

Many GemLife Woodend residents have already been using the program and Julie is more than happy to share her yoga knowledge with the entire extended GemLife family too.

According to Julie, seated yoga is suitable for all ages and ability levels – poses can easily be modified for each practiser’s needs.

The movement and breathing helps clear the mind and reduces stress, as well as improving balance, flexibility and strength in a gentle, low impact way. Julie, having injury issues of her own, also says chair yoga is great for people restricted by pain issues associated with injuries old and new.

She stresses the importance of listening to your body and respecting its limits on any given day. If you feel discomfort or strain while doing a pose, gently come out of the posture and rest.

Julie has kindly created a half-hour video to do a gentle seated yoga program at home, click here to get started.