Chair Yoga’s a Hit with Seniors at Barrhaven Manor
Special to the Barrhaven Weekender for Thursday Oct 14, 2004

by Laurel E. Anderson

Katie, Harold, Ilse and Russell, along with several other residents, have got it going on every other Monday morning in the common room at Barrhaven Manor. That’s right, with an average group of about fifteen, chair yoga for seniors is proving to be a popular activity at this retirement home as well as at many others around town. Owners Frank D’Amato and Dan Lemay definitely had the right idea when they agreed to have yoga added to the activity roster.

Teachers Kim Barkley, principal at The Kanata Yoga Centre and Fulvia Bublies DiCola, owner of Shanta Yoga, can be found teaching chair yoga in retirement homes, nursing homes and long-term care facilities all around Ottawa and are responsible for the bustle of activity, stretching and meditating going on at Barrhaven Manor every other Monday morning.

I stopped by one morning to observe a class and was quickly recruited to round up the regulars for class and to invite new residents to join in. Some students were already waiting in the common room and after talking Harold Schult into coming to class with his wife Ilse, I asked Kim how this all got started. Wheeling Harold down the hall, she mentions her mentor Georgia whom she first took yoga classes with several years ago, as the instigator. Georgia was teaching in a few homes and as the demand kept rising, Georgia found herself needing more instructors and that’s when Kim and Fulvia, who has also been teaching for many years, added senior’s classes to their regular teaching schedule and now between the three of them, they are teaching in over twenty homes across the Ottawa region.

Some students walk to class unassisted while others roll in on their scooters and wheelchairs and I see a cane already propped up against the window. Class is about to begin and Kim starts by introducing new members when Ilse speaks up, saying that she wants yoga classes more often. Right now, class is held once every two weeks at Barrhaven Manor and most residents are keen for a weekly class. Iris MacLaurin is another mainstay at class and says that class makes her feel so relaxed and who doesn’t want to feel more relaxed on a regular basis?

As residents warm up, the cardigans are tossed and canes abandoned as Kim and Fulvia walk around guiding and adjusting students in a caring and gentle way. It’s a half hour of invigoration and relaxation at the same time with everyone sitting in a circle and going at their own pace. And as I join in between jotting down notes, I notice and feel the mutual support in class. When Isle’s husband Harold says he can’t, instructor Kim tells him, with her trademark smile, that you aren’t allowed to say ‘can’t’ in this class. Harold proceeds to lift his left leg, the one that doesn’t work so well and needs to be ‘traded in’ in as Harold put it in an earlier conversation. The class celebrates Harold’s achievement by clapping and pushing themselves a bit further. Fulvia reminds residents to honour their edge and to take it at their own pace. I remember this from my own yoga class and know that your edge or limit in a pose is different all the time and the key to success is to listen to your body.

“Attitude transformation” is teacher Fulvia’s first response when I asked what kind of change she has seen in the residents. She continues, “the way they sit and hold themselves, which is so important.” “I see better mobility with extremities like the feet, legs and arms. Better movement helps with circulation which is vital,” adds Kim. Fulvia nods and says that the residents attitudes towards being physically fit and taking care of themselves is aided by yoga class as they are able to build a connection to fitness.

And speaking of connection, fitness isn’t the only thing on some of the participant’s minds when they come to class. Jennifer Davis has been a regular at chair yoga since it started at the Manor almost three years ago and confides in me, “I come because of Kim (teacher), not because of the yoga, it’s like a social thing.” And this I can see throughout class as I witness lots of giggles and laughs but focused effort at the same time.

Catherine Armstrong is the recreation coordinator at Barrhaven Manor and she too sees the value in these classes. “A lot of residents get stressed out and worry a lot and this activity puts them at ease, calming them.” She agrees that it is a popular program at the home and that it compliments other activities and outings that Barrhaven Manor supports.

As class winds down I realize that this is not rocket science. The benefits of of chair yoga are obvious. Good stretching, limbering, increased circulation and social interaction to name a few. Ilse is getting ready to leave and says, “we should do yoga every week because I know it’s good.” Russell Bloomfield enjoyed his first class today and said that he usually does weights in his room but that this was fine. Russell is 97 years old and you might recognize his name as he ran Artistic Cake Design in Westboro for many, many years and still keeps active with walks, weights and yes, baking.

Class is over and everyone is smiling as they get ready to leave. Several residents approach me to tell me how much they enjoy the class and the instructors. In a shy and quiet way Iris tells me “I feel so relaxed after class.” And Nancy Villeneuve, who participates from her scooter and has been coming to the class since its inception, tells me how much she enjoys class and how it makes her ‘feel relaxed all over.’

Kim and Fulvia walk me out and on the way I ask them where they see this going-this chair yoga for seniors. “Chair yoga in every home in Canada,” says Kim and Fulvia nods in agreement. “But first we’ll start with conquering Ottawa.” Lucky Ottawa.

For more information on chair yoga for seniors, go to www.kanatayoga.com or www.shantayoga.com or call 613-858-1114.
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