Not flexible enough to do a downward dog? Mobility too limited for eye of the needle?
Chair yoga could be the solution, according to Sarah Caranci, yoga instructor and owner of Studio Satya in Bond Head.
It is an accessible form of yoga that adapts poses, breathing techniques, and meditation to be performed while seated in a chair — a gentle introduction to yoga that is ideal for those with mobility issues, illness or sore joints.
The key, Caranci said, is to “really listen to your body. If it doesn’t feel good, don’t do it!”
Caranci was a guest speaker at the June meeting of the Bond Head/Bradford Garden Club, introducing chair yoga for gardeners.
She demonstrated some moves — “Deep belly breathing… It just calms us down!” — and showed how gardeners can stretch to eliminate the tension and stiffness produced by digging, planting and pruning.
“You can hold tension everywhere,” Caranci told the group, as she encouraged them to stretch, bend, roll their shoulders, breathe deeply, and try the butterfly chair and gardener warrior poses. “We want to release tension,” she said, but “if it becomes uncomfortable, stop.”
Caranci ended the demonstration with meditation, suggesting participants envision their perfect gardens and a fragrant rose.
The June meeting was the final meeting of the club for the summer.
Members could enter the Summer Flower Show, winning awards for their peonies and other perennials, floral designs, and best rose.
The club does not formally meet again until September, when it will host a Fall Flower and Vegetable Show.
