Benefits of Chair and Mat Yoga for Functional Movement
Benefits of Chair and Mat Yoga for Functional Movement
In order to fully understand the benefits of yoga for functional movement, first we must discuss functional movement.
What is functional movement?
In order to fully understand functional movement, it must be broken down into its parts. Functional, by definition, is having a special activity, purpose, or task; relating to the way in which something works or operate. Movement, by definition, is an act of changing physical location or position or of having this changed. Therefore functional movement is the practice of improving the way in which a person changes their physical location. To further elaborate, Functional Movement, as described by Wikipedia, are movements based on real-world situational biomechanics. They usually involve multi-planar, multi-joint movements which place demand on the body's core musculature and innovation. These movements can improve the body’s functionality by first improving balance and stability thru adapting a different way of moving in everyday life.
There are three planes of movement that through yoga, are improved by focusing on the functional aspect of the movements. These planes are the sagittal plane, coronal or frontal plane, and the transverse plane. When focusing on these three planes of movement, functionality is improved.
The sagittal plane also called the lateral plane, it is a vertical plane running from front to back, dividing the body or any of its parts into right and left sides. This plane of movement can be best described as focusing on flexion, or bending of joints and limbs, as well as extension, or the straightening of a joint or limb from a bent position.
The coronal, or frontal, plane is a vertical plane running from side to side, it divides the body or any of its parts into anterior and posterior portions. This plane of movement is best broken down into a combination of adduction and abduction. Adduction is the movement of a body part toward the body’s midline. So, if a person has their arms straight out at the shoulders and brings them down to their sides, it is adduction. Abduction is any motion of the limbs or other body parts that pulls away from the midline of the body. Swinging the hands from the side of the body up to the shoulder or higher, is abduction.
The transverse plane also known as the axial or horizontal planes, are parallel to the ground and divide the body into top and bottom parts. This plane of movement is best described as the rotation of the core and spinal column.
Now that we’ve focused on the three main planes of movement, it is time to look at how yoga, both in a chair and on a mat, are used to improve these planes.
Yoga has been shown to improve overall health, prevent (and even reverse) disease when practiced regularly. It’s no surprise that it can lend its benefits to those with mobility issues. Yoga can be adapted to suit anyone’s needs, this is one of the many wonderful things about the practice. There is no sense of competitiveness in yoga, which rules out the need to push oneself too far, leading to injury. The goal is to work with your body, rather than against it.
Chair yoga can still help improve flexibility, much like mat yoga, it can help improve both physical and mental stability as it focuses on the relaxation of the mind and body. It also helps to lower stress both physically and mentally. Yoga, both chair and mat, help to improve proprioception. According to doyouyoga.com, proprioception is the skill of knowing where your body is in space, and coordinating your movements accurately. This is very important for elderly people and can help to prevent falls, as well as people with disabilities or conditions such as MS, it could lead to greater control over your body and its movements.
Chair yoga is much like mat yoga, except for the added benefit of the chair to help alter the movements and positions and make them easier to execute and more comfortable for those who are unable to do exact positions. Modified positions are used to help create the same effects of mat yoga on the body, even though they’re being done in a seated position. Chair yoga is a wonderful way to introduce yourself to the art of yoga, without pushing yourself too hard. It is also very beneficial to those who cannot easily get themselves on and off the floor in order to do the poses that yoga is known for.
Mat yoga is the basic yoga that everybody thinks of when they think of yoga. A yoga mat is used for stability and slip resistance and those participating are placed in a very calming environment and act out many different poses. It is used to help improve flexibility, as well as stability, and to achieve a balanced everyday equilibrium.
In trying to improve functional movement through yoga, it is hoped that the improved flexibility and stability, as well as balance, will improve those three planes of movement, thus improving the overall functional movement. With a calm mind and a relaxed body, one can hopefully achieve their highest point of functionality.
