Chair yoga helps residents keep flexible
Residents at a Wellington care home have been making the most of the flexibility offered by online exercise classes to work on their own flexibility by taking part in chair yoga.
Harriet Burraston, activities coordinator with specialist dementia care provider Camelot House and Lodge, said: “Encouraging our ladies and gents to keep active can be quite challenging because of their dementia, so the key to success is keeping it fun.
“We’ve started doing online chair yoga classes with them using our large tablet, and they’re absolutely loving it.
“Chair yoga is great for older people because it’s low impact and can improve their balance and strength without any risk of falls.
“It’s a safe and accessible form of exercise that can be modified to suit each individual.
“For people who spend a lot of time sitting, which is often the case for those living with dementia, chair yoga can help increase the range of motion in their joints and muscles as well as relieving the tension and stiffness linked to conditions like arthritis.
“And then there’s the added bonus that the gentle movements and focused breathing definitely seem to reduce stress and boost everyone’s mood.
“Not all our residents need to stay in their chairs, so there’s always quite a range of activity going on in the lounge when the yoga instructor is doing her thing, but what is clear from everyone’s faces is how much they enjoy these sessions.”
Camelot House and Lodge is run by award-winning dementia care provider Camelot Care, who also have homes in Bridgwater, Plymouth and Yeovil, with a fifth due to open in Holsworthy later this year.
