World Alzheimer’s Day, observed annually on September 21, helps raise awareness about Alzheimer’s disease and encourages conversations about the challenges people face. Caregivers and families often find this journey emotionally challenging. When a loved one has Alzheimer’s, they may lose their memory and also have trouble with movement, balance, and focus. Caregivers may feel like their loved one is drifting away more each day. Despite these challenges, there is a simple and joyful practice that can help: chair yoga. It allows people to move, breathe, and connect with themselves, improving the lives of both Alzheimer’s patients and their caregivers.
Alzheimer’s disease can make it hard and unsafe to do standing or floor exercises. “Chair yoga makes it easier for people to practice by bringing the ground closer to them,” Dr Yogrishi Vishvketu, yoga educator, tells Health Shots. It uses a stable chair, gentle movements, and simple breathing techniques. Chair yoga can lead to a sense of peace of mind, drawing on traditional yoga practices, as noted by the Yoga Journal. In addition to physical benefits, it offers a unique way to find inner calm.
Chair yoga may offer several health benefits:
Dr Yogrishi Vishvketu shares some gentle chair yoga exercises for Alzheimer’s patients. These movements not only benefit physical health but also create opportunities for connection.
Why it helps: Moving your joints with simple exercises helps keep them flexible, reduces stiffness, and improves blood flow. This is especially important for people who sit for a long time.
Why it helps: This practice maintains spinal flexibility, aids in breathing, and promotes awareness of posture.
Why it helps: This encourages spinal mobility and stimulates digestion, as per the National Spine Health Foundation.
Why it helps: This opens the ribcage, improves lung capacity, and stretches the side body.
Patients may also try Bhramari Pranayama, known as the “humming bee breath”, as per The Yoga Institute. This practice comes from Restorative Raja Yoga. “Bhramari is gentle and helps calm the nervous system while releasing stress”, shares the yoga expert.
Why it helps: It activates the body’s “rest and digest” mode, helps to balance hormones and stabilise mood, supporting deep, restful sleep, and potentially reduces inflammation, which is often linked to cognitive decline.
Bhramari can be practised in two ways:
Wrap up your chair yoga session with a minute of Bhramari, allowing the soothing sound to fade into silence. Sit quietly together afterwards. This stillness can be incredibly healing.
Here are some handy tips to ensure your chair yoga sessions are beneficial for both you and your loved one:
A recent study published in The Journal of Prevention of Alzheimer’s Disease shows that Alzheimer’s patients can benefit from a well-rounded lifestyle. This lifestyle should encompass regular physical activity, an anti-inflammatory diet, mindfulness practices, and meaningful social connections. Chair yoga may be an excellent fit for this approach, as it helps improve physical health, mental clarity, and emotional well-being.
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