To provide a asana experience in a way for a client who lost range of motion, difficulty sitting with crossed legs on the mat. Adapting the chair poses and introducing more meditation to accept the changes in an aging body.

My client has agreed to meeting once a week for 4 weeks. We are going to find the right way for her to practice yoga safely during these 1 hour sessions.Taking notes on where her body has lost range of motion during injury and/or age. Observing her during certain asanas so I can adapt them safely.

67 year old female mostly healthy and loves yoga. she can't sit crossed legged because of a bakers cyst and knee pain. Her hips have lost range of motion from age and lack of exercise of the years. She has pain in her right shoulder from an unknown injury and her big toe lost motion from a bunion surgery.

With the student I envisioned some trial practices with her to tailor a practice that is healthy and she will be excited to do. She realizes that a groups class no longer works for her and may not be safe and is excited to work one on one. She has a lot of energy and has a hard time being present so i wanted to encourage some mediation through the practice.

We are using Hatha yoga using a chair and a mat and Raja yoga bringing in more self loving meditations and imagery to the practice. Since she has a hard time being present we are adding meditation into her restorative poses in the last portion of the practice after she has moved a bit it was clear she would because more present and calm.

She has always takes care of other people and is very social, so when it is her time she wants to spend it asking questions about you rather than enjoy the quiet present time for herself this is the area of focus because it even helps her during her haha practice.

She needs to do these practices on her own a few minutes a day. Every week she says she will because she knows it is goo for her body and mind but "gets too busy".
I am working with her to understand this is a priority for her which is the reason she shows up weekly but its just not enough to really see and feel the progress.
She gets super tense at work and it affects her posture so I gave her a 5 minute routine while at her desk in a chair to move through.

I applied the plan and modified weekly until we found a way to move through postures comfortable and effectively. The goal is being achieved in the way that i know what has to be eliminated form her movement and where she needs props to assist her. we do some restorative the second half of the practice and each week I see her go deeper in the guided meditation i so during. At the end of our time together for this report she stayed in a quiet deep relaxation for 10 minutes.

There were many adaptations, we had to use a chair because she can't sit crossed legged o the floor. Because of her toe I could only do standing postures with a grounded heel and we also worked on her balance a lot. we worked a lot with different blanket folds as props for under her foot and for some supported back bends. We used a strap in folds as well because she likes to push herself and this holds her back. With her shoulder I suggested moving her palm to where the tension would subside and she was able to move and hold much better in the poses. The biggest lesson is close observation on every part of her practice. Watching closely where she pushes and the range of motion she has to avoid injury.

I would take this approach of observing and adapting the practice as we worked together. Getting to understand the students limitations and what the best tools are to help in asana and meditation. The deep relaxation I found to be the biggest success while working with this student because in the beginning she couldn't stop talking and asking questions and at the end she looked most forward to those restorative postures with he guided meditation and deep relaxation. We are continuing in our working relationship and I will continue to adapt to what suits her each time.