This book wasn't quite what I was expecting based on the title. I picked it up because I work a desk job and was hoping to gain some exercises/stretches to help me strengthen and stretch during a full day of sitting. However, I was shocked to see some direction towards teachers versus just an end user.

I do think the poses illustrated are good and chair yoga can benefit a vast majority of individuals!


Thank you to NetGalley and Shambhala Publications for the opportunity to read an advance readers copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

This book is wonderful for anyone who is aging or has some physical disabilities. It illustrates over 40 poses that help you strengthen your body right from you chair. Several chapters give some background of chair yoga.Also has over 250 pictures showing correct posture and movement. I myself am in my 70’s and found many of these useful. Great gift.

"A Guide to the Lakshmi Voelker Chair Yoga Method: Get Fit Where You Sit" by Lakshmi Voelker and Liz Oppedijk is an informative guide that offers a unique approach to fitness through chair yoga. The book stands out for its positive and practical method, providing readers with an accessible means to incorporate exercise into their daily routines.

One of the strengths of the guide is its emphasis on making fitness achievable for a broad audience, especially those with mobility challenges. Voelker and Oppedijk present a clear and well-structured approach to chair yoga, with easy-to-follow instructions and illustrations. The positivity and encouragement throughout the guide make it an inviting resource for individuals looking to enhance their well-being.

However, some readers may find that the content, while practical, could benefit from a more in-depth exploration of the physiological and psychological benefits of chair yoga. While the guide effectively introduces the method, those seeking a deeper understanding may desire additional context.

In conclusion, "Get Fit Where You Sit" is a commendable guide for individuals looking to incorporate fitness into their lives through chair yoga. Voelker and Oppedijk's positive approach and straightforward instructions make it a valuable resource for those with diverse fitness levels. While the guide provides a solid foundation, readers seeking a more comprehensive examination of the broader impact of chair yoga may find themselves wanting additional insights.

This book is best suited for yoga teachers, rather than the people who are interested in seated yoga. This is a shame, since the title clearly makes it seem like it's for the latter. I had hoped for more poses and more adaptibility. My husband is disabled and has trouble doing many yoga poses, but it's not just standing that is an issue. He is unable to bend one arm, for instance, and has an artificial hip and knee that make some poses difficult. He has good luck with tai chi and I had hoped for some more here that would help him, but he's unable to do most of the poses. This will be a good resource for those who teach yoga, though.

A really great book on chair yoga, especially for those new to the practice. A helpful overview of different asanas/poses and their benefits.

As a yoga teacher who teaches chair yoga, a bit more in-depth information or variation for those familiar with the practice could have been helpful; I'm not sure what makes this unique from the other chair yoga books I've read before, but it never hurts to have more out there on the subject.

I have a slipped disc in my back so traditional yoga isn’t always possible for me. This is great for people with mobility issues. The author explains each move and then step by step instructions.

I received a complimentary copy of this book via Netgalley. Opinions expressed in this review are my own opinions.

I have multiple sclerosis and am always on the lookout for good chair exercises as I have very little balance.

I found Get Fit Where You Sit to be very helpful, I added a few of the exercises to my daily routines. Any tool that helps people with a disability use their muscles and stretch their limbs is a good one.

“This practical guide offers a pioneering method of chair yoga for every body: a full practice of asana, breathing, and meditation with 250 instructional photos.”

What a helpful book.

As a graceless someone who is both fascinated by, and terrified of yoga, this was the perfect entry point.

All of the history and theory (and even a little Sanskrit!) and motion, without the all the gravity defying poses.

I appreciated the author’s glossary of terms, clear photographs, plain explanations, and visualizations.

I think this is something both my 70 year old mother, and my 45 unflexible self could do together.

6.5/10

Thanks to NetGalley and Shambhala Publications Inc. for this ARC.

This book goes into great detail about chair yoga, its background and its benefits. There is so much detailed information that it seems geared towards instructors rather than students. This is not necessarily a bad thing depending on the level of your interest and willingness to wade through chapters that may not interest you at all.

I love that it shows yoga can be done by and benefit anyone regardless of their level of flexibility via modifications to the poses. I also appreciate the care taken to depict the various poses in detail (through both pictures and narrative) so that those wishing to try them can gauge whether they are doing it correctly and are in proper alignment to get the most benefit. However, it would be easier to truly visualize the poses if the person pictured were not wearing all dark clothing set against a dark chair. Some poses suffered from the inability to clearly distinguish the person's body from the chair. This is a significant issue, and the authors might want to consider addressing it quickly with a sooner-than-anticipated update/revision.

My thanks to Shambhala for permitting me to access a DRC via NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own and are given freely. Publication is set for 9/26/23.

This book was so informative. I am a yoga teacher and I have friends that I have to make chair sequences for and this will help out with that a lot. It helps to explain the poses and gives me more verbiage as to why we do what we do and levels of modifications even in the poses. It also touches on the yoga background, not just the poses. Yoga is so much more than asana. I will definitely use this book in my teaching.
Thanks to Shambhala, Netgalley and the author for an early copy.

I was hoping for an introduction to yoga but instead felt very overwhelmed. The authors are fully devoted to every aspect of yoga and quite happy to explain it all in great detail. Honestly, much more than I could assimilate, use, or appreciate. Since there are sections after every chapter specifically for yoga instructors, I get the impression this might be best suited for them.

The book has four parts and 13 chapters. Only one chapter has the actual poses. The rest of the book is about roots, foundations, alignment, breathing techniques, sanscrit words/translations, medication, mindfulness, chakras, chanting, mudras, safety, and making a sequence.

The chapter that does have the poses includes a photo of the original pose and then the variation on a chair. Each one includes lower and upper body info, putting it all together, tips, benefits, where to focus your eye, and a counterpose. All the photographs are black and white. Unfortunately, the person doing the poses is wearing all black from head to ankle so it feels like a blob on a chair a lot of the time since it is hard to pick out detail. I really wish lighter color\ clothing had been used since the book is only in black and white and on a black chair.

There are walls and walls and walls of text. If you are curious or fascinated about yoga, this is the book for you. If you are learning about yoga, this can help you fill in the blanks. But admittedly at times it was hard to continue reading when there is just so much text to go through and in dreary black and white. The book really could have used some nice aesthetics and color to show the joy of yoga more fully. When I think of yoga, I don't think of stark black and white with no greys or colors.

The translations of the poses are clever. I especially appreciated and respected that several poses are demonstrated by a person in a wheelchair. That said, these poses are easily done by anyone who has a chair with no armrests - not only for those with limited mobility.

So yes, a LOT of information to explore. But really, I think yoga instructors will especially appreciate an approach that allows them to teach to more bodies than just able-bodied ones. Reviewed from an advance reader copy provided by the publisher.

You can tell that the author is really passionate about yoga and making it accessible for everyone, regardless of their limitations. That said, I feel this book is somewhat more suited to someone teaching yoga than someone just practicing it, especially a novice. There is only one chapter that is entirely devoted to modified yoga poses. There are 40 poses in all, and the rest of the book is devoted to either her backstory, learning about chakras, chanting, mantras, mudras, meditations, breathing techniques, and safety. I am grateful for the modifications since I can no longer get down on the floor, but I was just hoping for more poses, and less discussion.

3.5 stars

This is a book for people who'd like to try yoga but know they can't really get down on the floor and into some of the typical positions. The authors do a nice job of breaking things down, but it could be a bit overwhelming to readers who just want to try the poses. There are illustrations and explanations of forty poses. The author shows various ways of doing it, which is nice for those with varying levels of flexibility. It's likely that readers will be able to find a modification that work for "every body."

I was attracted to this book because of its title: Get Fit Where You Sit. I missed doing yoga regularly, having had a knee injury that for quite a while prevented me from doing even something simple like cat-cow stretches because I couldn’t put weight on my knee. I’ve recovered now and can do most poses, but I was curious to see how to modify yoga poses for myself and others who might need modification, either on a temporary basis or permanently.

While the publisher says this book is for everybody (every body!) and that’s true, I believe it is really aimed more at yoga professionals. The authors explain their philosophy in detail, with chapters on levels of flexibility, breathing techniques and meditation. For someone who just wants to try their hand at yoga but has physical limitations, this book is a bit of overkill. When you do finally get to the section on various poses, you will find illustrations and explanations on 40 poses. For each one, they show the typical pose and then they include at least three different ways to experience it, depending on one’s level of flexibility. I tried quite a few of these poses and various modifications and wished I had known about these while my knee was giving me problems!

The authors obviously care deeply about yoga and its benefits and want to extend those benefits to “every body.” I would recommend this book particularly to yoga teachers.

Thank you to NetGalley and Shambhala Publications for the opportunity to read an advance readers copy of this book. All opinions are my own.