Bedford COA Yoga Classes MA

The Bedford Council on Aging is offering yoga this fall, with gentle chair yoga class MA suited for those who may have difficulty kneeling and sitting on the floor and mat yoga for those who are more mobile.

Seniors who have been coming to yoga report more comfort and ease in their bodies, sometimes as quickly as the very first class. Yoga strengthens weak muscles, lubricates the joints, brings relief from the suffering of arthritis and low back pain, strengthens the immune system and releases energy into your body. Balance improves greatly with the practice of yoga as well, strengthening feet, legs, hip flexors and core muscles. Yoga also strengthens all the breathing muscles and increases the power of each breath. People with asthma have reported significant improvement with their breathing.

Chair yoga

This class is a gentle form of yoga. You will practice sitting in a chair or standing using the chair for support. Complicated maneuvers and complex movements are not present in this class. The chair is used due to the difficulty in getting down and up off the floor. The class is one hour followed by a half hour of relaxation and meditation. Mondays and Fridays, 9:30-11 a.m.

Mat yoga

Develop body awareness, learn basic postures and proper alignment. Learn yogic forms of breathing and how to sequence breath and movements together and become familiar with the connection to your physical and energetic body. This class combines postures and movements on all fours, seated, standing and lying down. This is a multi-level class. Though ideal for someone who has already taken some yoga classes, it is also well-suited to someone who is fairly mobile but has never practiced yoga before. Class always ends with a deep relaxation and meditation. Mondays, 1-2:30 p.m.; Thursdays, 9:15-10:45 a.m.

The cost for each class is $65 for eight weeks or $120 for two classes per week.

For information and registration: 781-275-6825.