Move · Videos · Dance · 47 min

Chair Yoga Dance Party for Parkinson's

Chair Yoga Dance Party for Parkinson's — video by Parkinson's Foundation Play · 47:03

Video by Parkinson's Foundation on YouTube · Open on YouTube

A chair dance led by a certified yoga therapist: a short breathing warm-up, then seven songs, from Perry Como and the Supremes to Rod Stewart, the Archies and Rob Thomas, ending with 'I Hope You Dance'. Moves are taught before each song and build up; done fully seated.

  • 47 min
  • All levels
  • Low impact (no jumping)
  • chair
  • Chair dance

Good forHealthy ageingDancing for fun

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Step by step 9

Tap a time to watch that step in the video.

  1. Breathing warm-up: sit tall, hands on your lap, eyes closed, and take three deep breaths, sighing out. 2:51
  2. Catch a Falling Star: reach up to catch the star and tuck it into a pocket, then a cross-body hip version. 3:54
  3. Stop in the Name of Love: a stop hand and a heart, then add the opposite heel, a leg lift and jumping jacks. 7:47
  4. Country dance: hands on hips for heel taps forward, in and out, with matching hands, then a looping arm swing. 13:24
  5. Forever Young: sit wide, shrug and bounce the shoulders, reach and kick out, sunshine circle and pivots. 18:30
  6. Sugar, Sugar: a patty-cake hand pattern and a hug, heel taps with hands on hips, and pouring arm moves. 25:43
  7. One Less Day: punch up as you kick a leg out, punch down, and the pony with heels lifting in turn. 32:11
  8. I Hope You Dance: a slower finale sitting wide; reach across and grab, cactus arms, wipe the table, a V. 38:17
  9. Cool-down: hands to prayer, lower them slowly, thumbs to the heart, shoulders soft, and breathe. 43:32

The steps are a summary in our words, checked against the video — the coach shows every move.

Form cues from the coach

  • Start with a few slow breaths, sitting up tall in an armless chair
  • Do not worry about getting every step right; find the beat with your body
  • Follow along, tap your feet, or just enjoy the music

What it works Whole body

Tap an area for more videos that work it.

Joints it uses light on the joints

  • Shoulders movespunches, arm patterns, reaches, shrugs
  • Upper back movesarch and round, stirring the pot, leans
  • Lower back movesarch and round, stirring the pot, leans
  • Hips movesheel stomps, kicks, seated jacks, marching
  • Knees movesleg kicks, seated march and jacks, the pony
  • Ankles & feet movesheel stomps, the pony, heel bounces

Easier option from the coach: Fully seated; keep to the simple version of each move and shrink the size

A guide to the joints this video’s moves load, from what the coach does — not medical advice. Some ache is normal; stop if a joint hurts sharply. How joints are rated

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Video by Parkinson's Foundation; the summary, steps, cues, body areas and joint notes are Notbroken’s, written from what the coach actually does in the video and checked a second time. Warm up first, take the easier options until a move feels easy, and stop if you feel sharp pain, chest pain or dizziness. General instruction, not advice for your body. About & safety