Free Golden Afternoons Program to Feature Brandy Hirsh Teaching Chair Yoga Exercises on Tuesday, Nov. 17

At 1 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 17 in the Deane Center lobby at 104 Main Street in Wellsboro, the free one-hour Golden Afternoons program, open to men and women ages 65 and older, will feature Brandy Hirsh, instructor at the Seasons Yoga Room, teaching chair yoga exercises for seniors.

"I’m particularly drawn to gentle and restorative styles of yoga. In this fast-paced world I want to spread the message that rest isn’t something you earn, it’s something you practice,” says Hirsh.

“I began practicing yoga in 2009 and started working towards being a certified yoga teacher in 2018. I received my RYT 200 in 2019. This is the foundational 200-hour yoga teacher training credential recognized by organizations like Yoga Alliance. It is the baseline requirement to teach group and private yoga lessons. In 2021, I received an additional certification in Yoga for Mental Health with instructor Cindy Beers.”

Hirsh opened the Seasons Yoga Room at the Deane Center in September of this year. It is located on the third floor and accessible by elevator. She holds classes on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 8:45 a.m. and on Tuesday afternoons at 3:45 p.m. for $10 per class.

Chair yoga modifies standard yoga poses to be performed while sitting in a chair and/or using a chair to provide support while participants stand to do some of the exercises. Goals include building strength, reducing back pain and improving balance.

A typical class focuses on breathing, mobility, gentle strength, and relaxation and improving flexibility and lower-leg circulation.

Among the common chair yoga exercises and poses are: Centering and Warm-Ups, Seated Mountain Pose, Diaphragmatic Breathing (Belly Breathing), Neck Rolls and Shoulder Circles, Seated Cat–Cow and Seated Side Stretch, Seated Spinal Twist, Seated Forward Bend, Seated Triangle/Extended Side Angle, Seated Leg Lifts and Extensions, Ankle Circles and Foot Flexes, Seated Figure-Four/Pigeon Variation, Chair-Supported Warrior Poses (Warrior I or II), Seated Tree Pose and Seated Shavasana.

Free light refreshments will be provided.

Golden Afternoons is sponsored in part by the Wellsboro Electric Company, Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices/Hodrick Realty and La Pulga Tequila.

Those planning to attend Hirsh’s free Golden Afternoons program are asked to RSVP (preregister) by visiting the Deane Center's website at deanecenter.com. For more information about Golden Afternoons, call the Deane Center at 570-724-6220.