Gail Pickens-Barger ERYT200, RYT500, YACEP Childrens Yoga, Prenatal Yoga, Chair Yoga

Empowering Veterans: Weekly Online Movement Classes with Gail Pickens‑Barger

Join me on the Veterans Yoga Project Online Studio, via the WellnessLiving platform, for free weekly classes designed to enhance strength, flexibility, balance, and resilience. These accessible sessions offer physical, emotional, and mental support for Veterans across the nation. In 2024, 76% of participants reported decreased distress, and 72% saw reduced pain.

Chair Tai Chi with a Splash of Yoga with Gail PB

📅 Wednesdays — Alternating: Chair Tai Chi & Gentle Yoga for Back Care

Every other Wednesday (1:00 PM CST / 12:00 PM PST), I alternate two foundational classes:

🔹 Chair Tai Chi for Beginners

A 45 to 60-minute seated class that blends:

Yang-style Tai Chi forms, Shaolin muscle-sinew exercises
Qigong detox movements, mobility drills for fingers, hands, eyes
Acupressure and gratitude-based breathwork relaxation

Benefits:

Helps relieve chronic pain
Enhances posture, balance, strength, and sleep
Boosts circulation, lymph flow, digestion, and emotional regulation

Gear needed: Just one sturdy chair

🔹 Gentle Yoga for Back Care

This 60-minute class is designed for all levels and especially beneficial for people with back pain, arthritis, or joint limitations.

What to Expect:

Gentle yoga stretches and flows, either seated or on the mat
Tools and techniques that support spinal alignment and mobility
Breathing practices for stress relief and better circulation

Helpful Props:

Yoga strap, block, mat or chair
Optional: blanket, wall, or table for support

Fall Prevention Yoga Class using Two Chairs, Yoga Strap and Blocks for Improving Strength and Balance — Fall Prevention Yoga Class. Using Two Chairs, Yoga Strap and Block for Improving Strength and Balance

✅ Fridays — Chair Yoga for Fall Prevention

Join me every Friday at 1:00 PM CST / 11:00 AM PST for this energizing 60-minute session designed to improve balance, body awareness, and strength in a safe and supportive way.

Key Features:

Chair-supported balance exercises
Strength-building movements to reduce fall risk
No floor work required—great for people with limited mobility
Mindful breathing and body awareness to calm the nervous system

What You’ll Need:

Two chairs (one for movement, one for support)
Strap, yoga block
Optional: TheraBand, blanket, wall

💬 Side Note: Recent Student Reviews

Here’s what students are saying about these life-changing classes:

⭐ “I was experiencing level 6 pain in my hip and leg… After Gail’s class, my pain dropped to level 1. So grateful!”
— JA, July 25, 2025 – Fall Prevention Chair Yoga

⭐ “Gail PB is amazing! I’ve had two knee replacements and still get a great workout.”
— RM, July 24, 2025 – Gentle Yoga for Back Care

⭐ “Fantastic teacher! The practices make me feel better after class. The 3-step is really helpful—thanks Gail!”
— LC, July 12, 2025 – Fall Prevention

⭐ “Gail’s Chair Tai Chi is wonderful—good for both body and mind. Would love to see even more of these classes!”
— NW, July 16, 2025 – Chair Tai Chi

⭐ “I love Gail’s classes. They challenge me to get stronger and improve my balance. I’m thankful these are free.”
— DA, multiple reviews from June–July 2025

⭐ “Gail’s knowledge is deep, and she presents with humor and warmth. Her Chair Yoga is one of my weekly must-do’s!”
— DL, July 2, 2025 – Chair Tai Chi

🧘 Why These Classes Matter

Free for Veterans: Sponsored through the Veterans Yoga Project & VA partnership
Accessible and inclusive: No need to get on the floor
Safe and effective: Gentle movements adapted to your body’s needs
Whole Health support: Stress relief, pain reduction, emotional balance

📋 Weekly Snapshot

Day	Class	Duration	Focus Area
Wednesday (alternating)	Chair Tai Chi	45 min	Mind-body connection, mobility
Wednesday (alternating)	Gentle Yoga for Back Care	60 min	Back pain relief, strength & stretch
Friday	Chair Yoga for Fall Prevention	60 min	Balance, fall risk reduction

📝 How to Join

Visit VeteransYogaProject.org
Register for a free account on the WellnessLiving platform
Reserve your spot for the class—and let’s move, breathe, and heal together

Let’s make mindful movement a part of your weekly wellness!
Reach out anytime if you have questions or need help getting started.

Playlist for Chair Yoga for Fall Prevention

Current Playlist for Chair Yoga for Fall Prevention with Gail P-B.

Received some nice feedback on the Fall Prevention Chair Yoga class, that has been added to the schedule for online offerings for Veterans Yoga Project online studio.

It is an hour long class, then we have a discussion afterwards of what worked well for the folks, and what did not work well. Everyone is in a different place in their balance journey, so it is a “balance” (ha ha) to try to please most folks. (Get it, “balance”, Fall Prevention?)

When I was in a breast cancer study at MD Anderson a couple of years ago (get my mammograms at either the Houston, or Conroe location), one of the testing parameters was how many “Sit to Stands” movements I could do, unassisted. If one is below the average in these numbers, then there is a high probability that you will have a fall.

I shared this image a couple of years ago on my Instagram feed. It has stuck with me all these years.

Check out the free yoga classes over on Veterans Yoga Project website!

https://veteransyogaproject.org/vyp-classes

Back Challenges – Easy Yoga for Back Relief

Overview of Back Care Yoga Class

Easy to do yoga movements, today’s class featuring postures for easing sciatica & kyphosis. Class will also promote healthy backs!

Gail teaches gentle yoga for back care, focusing on low back, upper back, mid-back and core.
Specific yoga postures are designed to ease back challenges and chronic daily pain.
Equipment needed: yoga strap and yoga block, although not mandatory for participation.
Recording of the class is provided for those who want to try with the gear later.
Class ends with guided rest, relaxation, and gratitude practice.

Adaptations for Different Needs

Participants can choose to stand, sit on a chair, or modify postures based on individual needs.
Constructive rest posture is recommended for reducing back challenges.
Seated Participants can also benefit from certain postures, with some adaptations required.
Various modifications are suggested to accommodate different levels of flexibility and comfort.
Participants are encouraged to listen to their bodies and adjust postures accordingly.

Yoga Postures for Back Care

Yoga postures for back care are specific poses designed to strengthen and stretch the muscles in the back, helping to improve posture, reduce pain, and increase flexibility. These poses target different areas of the back to promote overall spinal health and alleviate discomfort.