Seated Yoga


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Susan Voorhees
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Here are a number of yoga exercises you can do while seated (appropriate for computer users):

Healthy sitting posture

Sit up on your sit bones, sacrum back in the chair, feet flat on the floor. Refrain from relying on the chair back. Sit up.
Inhale, place a finger on the sternum, and lift up and in; relax and let the shoulders fall on the exhalation.
Make a "W" shape (like a saguaro cactus) with both forearms and upper arms, palms forward, keeping shoulder blades drawn down the back. Keeping your chest like this, place your hands back on your lap or keyboard.
Draw your forehead slightly back, retracted, so your chin is in, not lifted.

Conscious breathing (Pranayama) to quiet the mind

Bring hands to prayer position (namaste) over the chest, and lower the chin (chin lock).
Start by exhaling through the nose, fully. Without forcing, take a deep, slow, steady and full inhalation through the nostrils, followed by a slow steady exhalation. Your ribs will expand to the sides and forward as you breathe in. Inhale and exhale about the same volume of air and length of time, blowing the air slowly out through the nostrils. Take your time, watching the breath.
Repeat twice. Finish with an exhalation, and return to natural breathing. Release the chin lock.
Be quiet, and observe the effects.

Yoga postures (Asanas) done seated

Parvatasana: arms overhead, to stretch the spine. Sit up and upraise your arms!
Gomukhasana (Cow face pose): one elbow up beside the head, the other arm bent back low behind the back; try to hook the fingers together, lower hand's palm turns away from the back. Follow by shoulder rolls and shrugs, neck roll or a U shape made with chin down over the chest and to each side.
Garudasana (Eagle pose): one upper arm over the other, forearms entwined. Do both sides, stretching under the shoulderblades.
Swaying Palm: one arm overhead, palm faces inward; side bend, stretching the waist, other arm secure on the chair for resistance.
Backbend over chair back, hands behind head; look up, keeping a fist distance between the chin and chest.
Baradvajasana Twist for upper back, neck, and eyes: sit up and slowly turn to each side, keeping sit bones straight ahead, and shoulders level. Elbows bend back.
Piriformis Stretch: one leg crosses over, ankle over top of thigh near knee, and lean over gently from the hips, keeping back straight to stretch outer thigh and buttocks. Follow with ankle rotations, and point and flex from the ankle. With both feet on floor, fold from the hips to stretch the lower back.
Simhasana (Lion pose): stick out your tongue towards your chest and roar (softly). Stretches the jaws and aids circulation to the face and throat
Palming for the eyes: rub palms vigorously and gently cup over eyes. Repeat. Good for headaches.
Seated silent meditation (Dhyana): listen inside to chanting of a mantra or sacred sound; sense your breathing; or visualize a luminous color or sacred symbol. When the mind wanders, return gently to the object of focus.

Seated Yoga

Back to Home

Class Schedule

Map to Studio

Fees

Susan Voorhees

Susan'sYogaBook

Here are a number of yoga exercises you can do while seated (appropriate for computer users):

Healthy sitting posture

Sit up on your sit bones, sacrum back in the chair, feet flat on the floor. Refrain from relying on the chair back. Sit up.

Inhale, place a finger on the sternum, and lift up and in; relax and let the shoulders fall on the exhalation.

Make a "W" shape (like a saguaro cactus) with both forearms and upper arms, palms forward, keeping shoulder blades drawn down the back. Keeping your chest like this, place your hands back on your lap or keyboard.

Draw your forehead slightly back, retracted, so your chin is in, not lifted.

Conscious breathing (Pranayama) to quiet the mind

Bring hands to prayer position (namaste) over the chest, and lower the chin (chin lock).

Repeat twice. Finish with an exhalation, and return to natural breathing. Release the chin lock.

Be quiet, and observe the effects.

Yoga postures (Asanas) done seated

Parvatasana: arms overhead, to stretch the spine. Sit up and upraise your arms!

Gomukhasana (Cow face pose): one elbow up beside the head, the other arm bent back low behind the back; try to hook the fingers together, lower hand's palm turns away from the back. Follow by shoulder rolls and shrugs, neck roll or a U shape made with chin down over the chest and to each side.

Garudasana (Eagle pose): one upper arm over the other, forearms entwined. Do both sides, stretching under the shoulderblades.

Swaying Palm: one arm overhead, palm faces inward; side bend, stretching the waist, other arm secure on the chair for resistance.

Backbend over chair back, hands behind head; look up, keeping a fist distance between the chin and chest.

Baradvajasana Twist for upper back, neck, and eyes: sit up and slowly turn to each side, keeping sit bones straight ahead, and shoulders level. Elbows bend back.

Simhasana (Lion pose): stick out your tongue towards your chest and roar (softly). Stretches the jaws and aids circulation to the face and throat

Palming for the eyes: rub palms vigorously and gently cup over eyes. Repeat. Good for headaches.

Seated silent meditation (Dhyana): listen inside to chanting of a mantra or sacred sound; sense your breathing; or visualize a luminous color or sacred symbol. When the mind wanders, return gently to the object of focus.