Just the word “yoga” scares off some people who imagine yoga is twisted-pretzel poses in an overheated room, or those who think it’s a religion and you have to know how to chant. 

Those descriptions do fit some forms of yoga. But about two dozen forms are practiced today in the United States. One of them is chair yoga, the perfect form for older adults who are less flexible or mobile than they used to be. 

Nancy Le Claire, 61, teaches chair yoga for St. Louis NORC (Naturally Recurring Retirement Community);  the class also is open to nonmembers 65 and older. 

“Seniors can find a calmness, more confidence and feel younger, too, with chair yoga,” Le Claire says.

The 45-minute class meets at 11 a.m. every Tuesday at The Gathering Place in the Jewish Community Center’s Staenberg Family Complex, 2 Millstone Campus Drive. Fees are $15 a month for NORC members and $20 a month for nonmembers. For more information, call 314-442-3255. 

Le Claire made time recently to talk about chair yoga.

What is chair yoga? 

It’s a gentle form of yoga, with a lot of the same poses of a mat class, but a chair supports you. Anybody, regardless of age or size, can do chair yoga. My students are mostly women, with some men, and some are in their 80s and 90s. 

What is the class like? 

We spend two-thirds of our time in the chair. We start with deep breathing. Next we relax our face muscles, do a series of seated twists and then a lot of legwork. Then we stand, holding on to the chair if need be, to do poses that help with balance and stability.

What are the benefits of chair yoga?

Physical benefits include improved circulation and respiratory function, increased bone density, better balance and mobility, better control of blood pressure and decreased arthritis pain. Yoga also reduces stress and anxiety and can help with mild depression — just being in the class is a social benefit. 

What do your students say about chair yoga?

They love it. One woman told me the class is the best thing that she and her husband do for themselves. I tell students that once a week is not enough, and I show them poses they can do at home, against a counter or using a chair, even for five or 10 minutes a day. And they do it! 

Do your students ever get down on the floor?

Last week, I asked my students when the last time was that they had sat on the floor. Three of them opted to get on the floor and then get back up with help from the chair. It is important to be able to get up after a fall, but it’s not a regular part of the class. 

What led you to teach yoga?

Back in 1999, I was working full time in medical sales and I had just put my mom in hospice care. I mentioned being stressed to someone in the office, and she suggested I try yoga. 

Did you?

I did. I bought a couple of DVDs and started out with a home practice. It was hard at first, but soon I felt more relaxed, just better overall. In 2002, I was able to quit my full-time job, and I got certified as a yoga instructor, though I didn’t know then it would lead to a second career`

What happened next? 

After my divorce, I had to start working again. I just wanted to wear my yoga clothes, so eight years ago, I started out as a substitute teacher at the JCC. Now, I teach 11 classes there, at both locations. I am very grateful.