Pauline has been following a Chair Yoga special interest since 2020. Her first chair yoga class was in Gretna, Richard Greenhowe Centre in Southwest Scotland. Then during the pandemic many of her regulars transferred to yoga on a Zoom screen. Due to their health conditions or lack of space to practice in their homes, a chair yoga practice made sense. So she offered adapted options in her classes and one weekly class devoted exclusively to chair yoga sequences and postures. In collaboration with one of her regular students she designed a ‘Sun Salutation’ practice adapted for a chair.
Post pandemic, Pauline loves the challenge of designing adapted accessible options within her weekly all ability Hatha Yoga classes.
This has meant being able to keep people loving and practising their yoga no matter what changes are taking place in their bodies or minds.
You will find a free public you tube video she made from her home on Lime Green Yogi channel.
There can be multiple reasons why people of all ages need the support of a chair, wheelchair or a wall:
- fatigue
- hidden and/or visible disability
- mental health conditions
- problems with balance
- eye problems or blood pressure issues
- hip, lower back, knee, ankle or foot issues
- recovering from a surgery or waiting for a surgery
- long covid
- life limiting or life changing disease
- Dementia
Pauline has been the specialist in chair yoga at The Sands Centre in Carlisle since 2023.
Initially she developed weekly sessions for the senior activity programme for the 60 + age group on Wednesdays 11am.
Then she advocated the need for accessible inclusive adapted exercise classes on the main fitness timetable for all ages and these are now weekly on Sundays at 2pm. It’s particularly good for those who had dropped out of mind body fitness classes because they could no longer get up and down to their exercise mats on the floor. Some people attend chair yoga because of self consciousness about their body shape or size. Sometimes chair yoga is step one to gaining self esteem, confidence and coping better with social anxiety and can lead to the courage to go to the gym, or see a PT, or get in the pool or go to group classes.
In 2025, Active Cumbria fully funded Pauline to deliver a chair yoga project for rurally isolated seniors in Longtown Medical Centre.
Paulne’s weekly Zoom class and Scotby Village hall and Dalston Recreation classes are hybrid and chair options are included in the class plans. She always adapts her sessions for wall and chair when she teaches on day workshops or residential retreats.
The teachers who inspire Pauline are below and they all offer training.
Judith Lasater www.judithhansonlasater.com
Maria Jones www.yuvayoga.co.uk
Jivana Heyman www.accessibleyogaschool.com
You’ll also find multiple illustrated books in the library and online about Chair Yoga.
Pauline’s book ‘Embody Lent in 29 Yoga Postures’ published by Iona Books in January 2024 has illustrated chair options in each of the 6 session plans. There are videos to accompany the book on request.
If you are interested in trying one of Pauline’s classes for free as a first timer or if you would like to discuss setting up chair yoga sessions for your charity, workplace or organisation then please contact her.