When people hear the word yoga, they often think of limber individuals twisting into difficult poses. But yoga is a practice that is accessible for people of all athletic abilities.
For those with limited mobility, wheelchair yoga offers a safe way to relieve tension and improve overall health. Multiple yoga flows can be performed in a seated position to open up the body. Plus, because yoga is a low impact method of exercise, it’s a great option to incorporate into a daily routine.
If you’re ready to get your zen on, explore our guide to yoga for people in wheelchairs.
Health Benefits of Wheelchair Yoga
To understand the positive improvements wheelchair yoga can bring, let’s take a look at this discipline's purpose.
Yoga has its roots in Hindu philosophy. It is an ancient practice that has been adopted in the West for its holistic benefits. The word yoga has different meanings and interpretations, depending on who you ask. According to Mirriam-Webster, yoga is
“a system of physical postures, breathing techniques, and sometimes meditation derived from Yoga but often practiced independently, especially in Western cultures to promote physical and emotional well-being.”
As you can see, yoga is meant to bring healing to both the mind and body. One study of over 300 participants found that yoga leads to increased balance and physical mobility in people over the age of 60.
Yoga also functions as a pain management tool. Harvard Health reported that yoga was found to increase the function of those with fibromyalgia osteoporosis-related back pain. A decrease in pain often leads to improved mood and quality of life, meaning yoga can have ripple effects far beyond the physical realm.
For those struggling with negative mental states, yoga has promising results. A study of elderly women who practiced yoga for three months found that levels of reported depression and anxiety noticeably decreased among participants. In other positive news, levels of self-esteem improved. Researchers from this study concluded that “ yoga should be a part of health-care facilities for the elderly as it can enhance the quality of life by improving their overall mental health status.”
The health improvements that wheelchair yoga for seniors brings about are far-reaching. To incorporate this method of exercise into your routine, consider the resources below.
How to Incorporate Wheelchair Yoga into your Routine
If wheelchair yoga sounds like the right fitness path for you, there are various online resources at your fingertips. Thanks to YouTube, you can practice wheelchair yoga poses and experience the many health benefits without leaving your home.
Explore these channels to find wheelchair yoga classes that walk you through various poses and breathing exercises.
Adapt to Perform
Ben Clark is on a mission to make fitness accessible to those in wheelchairs. His channel features a wide range of exercise videos for people with limited mobility.
Ben has videos to keep you moving from beginner wheelchair yoga poses to special breathing techniques for your yoga practice. If you’re feeling ambitious, consider trying one of Ben’s wheelchair fitness challenges to take your wheelchair exercise to a new level!
YogaJP
Yoga Vista is an online yoga community with a focus on aging well. Shery Zack Morris is the founder and featured trainer on the YogaJP channel. She brings a gentle and fun practice to wheelchair users. Her classes feature fun dances and upbeat flows that make wheelchair yoga for seniors an enjoyable experience. YogaJP also offers yoga videos in Spanish!
Pragya Wheelchair Fitness Warrior
Pragya is a para-athlete with impressive fitness skills. She also has over a decade of experience as a yoga therapist. As the name suggests, this channel is all about improving your fitness while in a wheelchair.
Pragya’s videos each tackle a unique fitness or health goal, and feature wheelchair yoga poses that move you towards that end. For instance, she has a video entitles, “Yoga Moves You Can Do Every Day for Better Joint Mobility.”
WheelPower Videos
If you’re looking for some longer wheelchair yoga sessions, WheelPower has multiple yoga videos between 20 and 30 minutes long. You can work deep into the poses and increase your flexibility with the guided workouts on this channel.
Wheelpower has a whole series on yoga for people in wheelchairs. In addition to this, the folks on the channel collaborate with other wheelchair users to bring videos led by different instructors. Check out WheelPower to find wheelchair yoga poses that you can start practicing today!
National Center on Health, Physical Activity and Disability
This adaptive yoga channel has yoga workouts for all ages. From simple seated yoga exercises to exercises for stroke survivors, this channel has a wide range of content that targets different fitness needs. There is also a video featuring yoga for people that have spinal injuries.
Visit the NCHPAD channel to find videos on yoga for people in wheelchairs and select the ones that suit your needs.
Do you need a special kind of wheelchair for wheelchair yoga?
To get the most out of your wheelchair yoga practice, certain tools keep you comfortable and secure. For instance, a sturdy wheelchair with footrests that swing away will allow you to plant your feet on the floor. This grounds you as you gently move through each yoga flow.
Another helpful tool is a wheelchair cushion. This provides an added layer of comfort and can help improve posture when seated. As you bend and twist through wheelchair yoga poses, a comfortable cushion can relieve pressure on the body. Learn how to choose the right wheelchair cushion here.
At Amica Medical Supply, we have a wide array of wheelchairs with adjustable features that allow you to navigate wheelchair yoga poses freely. Because we only partner with trusted brands, you’ll find high-quality wheelchairs and cushions that you can depend on.
If you have any questions about our products, reach out to our stellar customer service team today. We wish you luck in your wheelchair yoga journey. Namaste!
