Category: Yoga for Back Pain

Seated Chair Tai Chi for Chronic Pain and Stress Relief

Chair Tai Chi in Beaumont Texas with Gail Pickens-Barger

Chair Tai Chi with Gail Pickens-Barger

Chair Tai Chi with Gail Pickens-Barger

Wednesdays is your day for Seated Chair Tai Chi with Gail Pickens-Barger. This popular format is based on her training with MoonWillow Tai Chi with Allison Deputy.

When Gail was feeling the effects of her Afib acting up in 2022-2023, she wanted to find a gentle exercise modality that would still give her the great benefits of flexibility, stability and a sense of calmness.

After a bit of investigation, Gail found Allison on a local library event in the state of Illinois. This was a once a week online option on Zoom where you could register through the library to take this class.

After taking classes on a pretty consistent basis, Gail started adding some of the Tai Chi movements to her adaptive yoga classes at Lakeside center in Beaumont Texas.

Allison offers training in this modality, and Gail took the Chair Tai Chi training in August/September of 2023. Part of one’s training is to perform a teach back class, to demonstrate proper form, and sequences of the movements.

Developed by Allison Deputy over a 25-year period, Chair Tai Chi is now actively used in assisted living and health care/rehabilitation centers across suburban Chicago.

This program is a blend of Yang Style Tai Chi forms (singled out for adaptability in a seated position), Shaolin muscle and sinew exercises, qigong (“chee-kung”) detoxing techniques, hand/finger/eye exercises, as well as healing visualization.

Chair Tai Chi Benefits:

  • chronic pain reduction
  • improved flexibility
  • range of motion
  • posture
  • blood pressure
  • sleep
  • digestion
  • immunity
  • relieves stress
  • anxiety
  • aids in overall well-being

Chair Tai Chi is a unique therapeutic modality to offer in any senior or healthcare facility.

When?
Teaching Wednesdays at 11 AM at Lakeside Center 150 Magnolia Avenue Beaumont, Texas. Next to the Event Centre, and you will also see all the lovely Beaumont Festival Murals as you enter into the facility. On the back side of the Lakeside Center you will see the Event Center Lake and children’s playground area.

Allison Deputy will be teaching another series of classes in September/October online. I’ll be taking the refresher option as my students are really enjoying this class! Always learning!

Gaile P-B.

Teaching Online Yoga Wednesdays at 1:00 PM Central Time.

Now teaching online at: 12 AM PT, 1 PM CST, 2 ET

Gentle Yoga with Gail Pickens-Barger. Yoga to help ease back pain, lessen stress, increase flexibility, build bones, better balance, and have higher quality sleep. Next class sign up. https://tinyurl.com/TueYogaGail
Gentle Yoga with Gail Pickens-Barger. Yoga to help ease back pain, lessen stress, increase flexibility, build bones, better balance, and have higher quality sleep. Next class sign up. https://tinyurl.com/TueYogaGail
Tuesday Yoga for Easing Back Pain with Gentle Beginners Yoga with Gail, in-person classes starting 3rd week of March 2022.
Tuesday Yoga for Easing Back Pain with Gentle Beginners Yoga with Gail

Interesting Study: New Study Adds Growing Evidence that Yoga and Meditation Can Reduce Chronic Pain. I can attest to that study, as it has helped me with my chronic back pain!

https://www.yogauonline.com/yoga-research/new-study-adds-growing-evidence-yoga-and-meditation-can-reduce-chronic-pain

The study echoes previous findings on the benefits of yoga and meditation for chronic pain published in 2016 in the prestigious Journal of the American Medical Association.

“The bottom line is that patients are seeking new ways to cope with chronic pain and effective non-pharmaceutical treatments are available,” says Dr. Marske. “Our findings show meditation and yoga can be a viable option for people seeking relief from chronic pain.”

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/10/201001133227.htm

This just in. Yoga Eases Moderate to Severe Chronic Low Back Pain - Yoga with Gail
This just in. Yoga Eases Moderate to Severe Chronic Low Back Pain – Yoga with Gail
Check out one of my more popular class formats. Can be done seated on the chair, or on the yoga mat or on your couch or bed. Beginners simple movements.

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.

Constructive Rest Yoga Posture for Easing Back Pain.
Knee to Chest Sequence for Easing Back Pain. Yoga with Gail
Easing Back Pain with Overhead Extension Yoga Pose Sequence with Gail PB
Flowy Cat Cow Sequence Yoga Posture for easing back pain with teacher, Gail PB
Warrior Pose Variations for strength and lengthening of the lower body muscles. Yoga with Gail PB
Unsupported Spinal Twists and Bird Dog Spinal Balance Variations for easing back pain. Yoga Teacher Gail PB

117 Health Conditions Helped by Yoga

117 Health Conditions Helped by Yoga

Permission granted by Dr. Timothy McCall to share this pdf.

117 Conditions Helped by Yoga. Permission granted to copy and share this information. Yoga as medicine. As found in scientific studies as of June 2019. Yoga with Gail
117 Conditions Helped by Yoga. Permission granted to copy and share this information. Yoga as medicine. As found in scientific studies as of June 2019. Yoga with Gail

Here is the link to this PDF and the scientific studies supporting the health conditions helped by yoga.

117 Health Conditions Helped by Yoga
117 Health Conditions Helped by Yoga.

I teach weekly gentle yoga for low back care classes for the Veterans Yoga Project. Book my class on Wednesdays to get some sweet relief of easing back pain.

https://veteransyogaproject.org/vyp-classes to get a free account and book a class.

Yoga Nidra Series for October

Need Yoga Nidra Resources? I have three Yoga Nidra’s to put onto your playlist. Enjoy

October I Yoga Nidra – 43 Minutes
https://youtu.be/jOcW1yPoyP8

Yoga Nidra Practices to ease anxiety, lessen stress, reduce chronic pain and ease into slumber.

October II Yoga Nidra – 42 Minutes
https://youtu.be/e5k0Znceldc

Lessen anxiety, reduce monkey mind, and ease into slumber with Veterans Yoga Project Yoga Nidra Practices.

October III Yoga Nidra – 42 Minutes
https://youtu.be/bix-O8cytPM

Ease into slumber with a Veterans Yoga Project Yoga Nidra Practice. Taught by VYP Yoga Teacher, Gail Pickens-Barger