Yoga for Seniors: The Whole Body

Michelle Rubin's 54 minute class is perfect as it focuses on all the body areas. I have been doing it for months about 2-3 times a week and
it is wonderful --- particularly with emphasis on breathing.

Hello Michelle,

Thanks so much for sharing your class with us all. I really enjoyed it. My first yoga class in some time and definitely my first from a chair. Getting mobile again after such long period of my body being either injured or very sporadic in the demands put upon it, is why I came to your class. I have made notes a feel that it has helped me isolate some acute areas that need a more gentle approach to opening up their mobility whilst I also invest in a more general and well directed form of body connection. Having said that I found the layers of variations within each posture to be much more of a work out than I anticipated. I think I will build more stamina in say my shoulders and hips thanks to your class. Anyways, I just wanted to say thanks. I hope some feedback helps you out too. All th best. See you again. Adam.

I will give it a go.

Absolutely loved your beginner yoga class!

Great Workout! It's still a Great Workout!

Loved Michelle's yoga teaching...

This is a fantastic class for those of us who sit in a chair all day. I am able to sneak it in during my lunch hour and feel refreshed and less stressed afterward. It really helps workout those muscles that get tight from sitting at a computer all day - shoulders and neck, especially. The only thing I didn't care for was the cue for keeping the belly tucked in (like when you don't want your belly to show for a picture - I feel there's enough negative reinforcement of body image out there already; I don't need it in my yoga class, too. Otherwise, though, I really like both the class sequences and Michelle as an instructor. :)

I was organizing yoga for my office, and chose this video for an easy, all-level class. Now I come back to it frequently. Although I'm capable of doing more advanced yoga, I think this class is a great workout. It reaches areas (e.g. the shoulders and upper arms) that classes often miss. As others have said, Michelle goes pretty fast, but you can take it at whatever pace you want. It's also easy to make it more challenging if you like..

What a great way to start the day!

Have done this class 7 times. It’s easy, but I feel a benefit every time. Would like to see more classes from Michelle!

This helps my body feel so much better. Unable to yoga on ground. Good instructor. Do several times a week between exercising. My favorite yoga class!!

Thank you Michelle Rubin, this class is a grace for my self care and healing! It appears to be a little long for me and my schedule, therefore, I do the top one day and the lower areas on the next day. Have you considered a 20 minute whole body yoga workout? Again, thank you so much for a beautiful job surrounded by so much beauty.

Constance Mason

Thank you for this. An injury to my heal kept me from being able to stand w/o crutches and this video was perfect for me. It even caused a minor sweat for me. One thing in particular I loved with this video, and many others on this site, is the consistent reminder to keep breathing, breathing properly and relaxing the shoulder, jaw etc. I always forget to breath and I always tense my shoulders up and my jaw. I'm getting better at remembering on my own and the persistent kind reminders help tremendously. I made some of the suggested modifications when it was necessary, which I also appreciate so much being a beginner. After this practice, I really felt absolutely wonderful. Thank you, again.

I found Michelle's video first on YouTube, which then led me to this site. I started yesterday. After just two days practice, I already feel better than I have in years, especially in my shoulders and wrists. I injured my right shoulder 8 years ago and of all the exercises I've been given in PT and continued at home, Michelle's routine has my shoulders looser than they've been since my injury. I also have carpal tunnel and had reached the point of needing yet another set of shots in my wrists, but last night I was not awoken by the pain in my wrists that has awoken me each night for about 10 days now. I'm hopeful this routine was the reason - no more shots would be such a gift! I like the pace of the video and Michelle's way of giving both instructions and reminders. Kudos!

I do this practice at least twice a week. Love it.

I have arthritis in most my joints and find myself become more and more stiff and immobile. I felt this video gave me a full body workout that I could do. I saw a few comments about the speed of Michelle's movements. She does go pretty rapidly -- much faster than I was capable. I watched her for a repetition or two to see what I should be doing and then I just went at my own pace. It's yoga - not a competition Do what you can and you will find this an excellent workout.

I am recovering from an Achilles tendon rupture and can't practice my usual yoga routine. I was excited to find this video, but I felt that the breathing was far too quick. It looks like it could be a terrific practice if the instructor were to slow down and move with a natural breath.

As an instructor of chair-based yoga classes for seniors, I was startled by the speed of this instructor's breath and movements. When she began with the shoulder exercises and said "slow, controlled circles" her actions did NOT match up to that description! (I actually laughed out loud!) A young, conditioned person would likely hyperventilate breathing at that rate, let alone someone who is older, perhaps with physical injuries and/or limitations.

Please consider removing or reshooting this video. Although some of the exercises were good, there was little to no mindfulness or intention of breath. Also, although perhaps this is a personal preference, the instructor might benefit from some basic vocal coaching to bring the intensity and pitch of her voice down to mirror a more relaxed yoga environment.

I was looking for just the right chair/recovery yoga for someone that suffers from lupus and rheumatoid arthritis. I am thankful for Micelle helping me to get my joints moving in a gentle easy to learn manner.

This class is perfect for me. I'm just beginning to exercise after being too sedentary for too long. My life is very busy, and I had always said if there were something I could do at work, I could exercise. Now I have no more excuses! I just did this at work.
A great work-out, kind and gentle instructions, many suggestions for adaptations make this my favorite class so far (I've tried out some others that I also liked but this is my favorite.)
I also felt the breathing suggested at the beginning would make me hyperventilate, so I just breathed in a way that was comfortable for me (much as we sometimes need to adapt poses).
Thanks again for a wonderful class!

Michelle, this is wonderful. I am a beginner and 60, this was a perfect place to start. I loved it.

Thanks, Michelle for this wonderful yoga video. I'm recovering from recent surgery for bowel cancer so I'm not able to do my usual yoga practice but this is just perfect to aid my recovery - I can feel myself getting stronger day by day so many thanks for this inspirational yoga video in a breathtakingly beautiful setting.

This was just what I needed to get re-started after a knee injury that has seriously limited my mobility. I do have to agree with the previous comment about the over-fast breathing in parts. I ignored the breathing instructions when following them would have made me hyperventilate, but otherwise this was an excellent class.

I tried another beginner yoga video first. And much to my dismay, my body let me know that it's not ready for that amount of activity yet. So, I decided to try chair yoga. I love it!!! I felt so good when I finished. I didn't feel any tension or stress to my body, especially my joints. However, I did notice some sweat. :-) This is what I need to get my body ready for more. Baby steps...

Michelle, this is wonderful. I have been teaching seniors for about 6 yrs. To avoid getting stale I search the internet for fresh ideas. You gave me plenty. You remind me to do things I overlook because they are so simple or combine things in ways I never thought to do, such as prayer hands twist. The previous commenter should hit the pause button to slow the pace if that is her concern. I say focus instead on what value there is in what you offer - clear instruction with kindness and much variety. I applaud you for offering this for free.
With gratitude & Namaste,
Deanna Hoover, Footloose Yoga