The modification of Sun Salute sequence utilizing a standard chair to increase mobility and soft tissue extensibility.

Goal is to increase soft tissue extensibility. My client reports a high level of "tightness" generally throughout her body. A High/Moderate/Minimal scale is used to describe the quality of that tightness. We will meet 2x/week for 4 weeks for Adaptive Chair Yoga. Client educated in stretches to do at home, keeping written log of same scale.

My client is a 65 year old female, retired teacher with history of fairly active lifestyle, including baking, yoga and hiking. Recent diagnosis of Osteosarcoma in Spring of 2020 with subsequent chemotherapy treatments. Subjective reports that the cancer dx, treatments and residual stress left my client feeling tired, tight and chronically stressed. Client reports eagerness to get back to yoga and physical activity.

Plan was arranged to meet with the client 2x/week for an Adaptive Chair Yoga Session. This session would include an adapted Surya Namaskar utilizing a chair as a part of the session (in addition to seated stretches and standing supported poses). The client and I have a previously agreed upon scale to denote her level of subjective "tightness" (High/Moderate/Minimal), as this restriction is her greatest complaint. Client has also agreed to spend personal time utilizing chair yoga, including sun salutations at home, keeping a written log of her muscle tightness levels.

During my time with the client we utilized the IY branch of Hatha Yoga. Within the context of Hatha Yoga - asana, pranayama, and yoga nidra were primarily used to meet my clients needs. My client was quite an active woman prior to her battle with Osteosarcoma and was eager to "feel good in her body again". Utilizing Hatha yoga, with the gentle approach of a chair yoga sequence, was met with favorable response. Using the key teachings taught by the lead instructors in Adaptive Yoga, my client was given a well rounded chair class, including modified Sun Salutations that aided in an increase in soft tissue extensibility.

My client has been through alot....from the diagnosis, treatment, travel back and forth to hospitals and treatment centers, regular blood draws and testing - all within the pandemic. My client was extremely concerned about the possibility of getting sick, as her body's defenses were down. We met at the yoga studio, where I teach most of my classes in a private session. It is a serene atmosphere and all cleanliness precautions were made. I had asked my client if she wanted me to wear a mask, which she did prefer, to which I agreed.

My client felt comfortable doing portions of the sequence at home, which I did encourage as to keep up a repetitive action of increasing the desired tissue extensibility. I had suggested to do one time per day for the days we did not have arrangements, which she agreed to and was subjectively consistent with.

I believe I did apply the intended plan. I felt that the Adaptive Yoga Sun Salutations were a good fit for her to decrease her chief complaints of "tightness'. She really did benefit from seated thoracic extension as well as standing supported balance as well. My client did appreciate that yoga can be adapted to suit the individual practitioners needs.

I followed along what "felt good" for her. She was so tight, tense and constricted for so long that using the lens of Hatha Yoga (asana, pranayama, Yoga Nidra) not only decreased muscular tension but as well as energetic/emotional tension (as the client relayed that information to me during our session).
I actively listened to the client and followed her lead. She was relatively comfortable with all the adapted asanas and really enjoyed Deerga Swasm too.

I feel that I met the client where she was at and we worked together to build a thorough Adaptive Chair Yoga Class. Initially my thoughts went to the Sun Salute being the overall stretch she needed to decrease the complaints of tension but she really benefited from the entire class, including asana (seated, standing), pranayama and the deep guided relaxation at the end of our sessions.
I feel that if she had other needs or if movements, breaths, positions were not good for her I would have adapted accordingly.