Review: Quick and Simple Chair Yoga for Seniors Over 60 by Audrey Fitzgerald

A thorough and confidence-boosting guide for older readers seeking a workout program that fits their needs and limitations, Quick and Simple Chair Yoga for Seniors Over 60: The Fully Illustrated Guide to Seated Poses and Cardio Exercises for Weight Loss and Mobility to Maintain Your Independence in Under 10 Minutes a Day! by Audrey Fitzgerald is an invaluable companion, drawing from more than two decades of experience as a yoga, meditation, and movement teacher.

For older generations, yoga and other new-age fitness methodologies have not always been popular or widespread, meaning that some seniors may still be unfamiliar with the practices, philosophies, and terminologies of yoga. This book functions as an easy primer on yoga, but one that is intentionally designed for beginner, intermediate, and limited mobility practitioners. For anyone interested in staying fit through their golden years, implementing any or all of the simple practices in this book would be an excellent starting point.

Beginning with a general introduction to yoga, Fitzgerald offers a review of yoga’s general health benefits, as well as its potential role in fitness for seniors and others with mobility limitations. Specifically, chair yoga is presented as an ideal solution for those who may not be confident with yoga poses, or people with balance issues who would feel more comfortable sitting down. Moving into the common myths and misinterpretations of yoga, the text reassures readers that yoga is an inclusive, welcoming, and flexible space for self-improvement, no matter the age of the practitioner, or teacher.

A brief but important chapter on mindset philosophies and self-care practices is followed by lessons on how to warm up the body and stay safe during your chair yoga workout. From mental readiness and hydration to specific adjustments related to pre-existing health conditions, this preparatory chapter is a holistic reminder that the workout itself is only one part of wellness.

The bulk of the book then consists of yoga exercises and cardio exercises that can be easily performed in a chair, with step-by-step instructions on body position, movement, breathing, duration, and purpose (e.g. grounding, strengthening, or balance). These workouts are interspersed with detailed passages about weight-loss strategies and other wellness practices that can support a workout regimen. Closing with dietary recommendations that encourage a more active and healthy life, the book offers clarity on how meal choices directly affect weight loss, mobility, and chronic inflammation, all of which are a specific concern for seniors.

Written in a conversational and compassionate tone, the content is broadly accessible, regardless of age, physical fitness goals, or experience, and Fitzgerald moves patiently through different concepts and explanations, without being overly intimidating in the breadth of information, but still commanding a sense of authority. The dozens of references throughout the text further legitimize the advice being presented, as does the casual but confident writing style, evidence of a writer who genuinely trusts and practices what she preaches. Combining classic self-help wisdom with practical workout examples, easy-to-understand illustrations, and deeply researched wellness data, this book goes above and beyond a typical exercise guide.

Approaching the subject with clear language, proven experience, and common-sense logic, Fitzgerald delivers an engaging and informative fitness manual that offers everything one could possibly need for starting or maintaining a senior yoga regimen.