Neck: Limited Flexion, Extension, Rotation    
 

Asanas

Modifications to Asanas
    Cat/Cow     Only bend neck backwards and forwards as far as feels comfortable (reduce cervical flexion/extension)
    Cobra   Allow forehead to rest on blanket (facilitate cervical extension)
    Warrior II
 
Seated Twist Simple Reclining Twist 		  Only turn head as far as feels comfortable (reduce cervical rotation)
    Wide-Legged Seated Forward Bend   Place more blankets underneath hips and/or under forehead (reduce cervical flexion)
Lower Back: Limited Flexion, Extension, Rotation    
  Crossed Legs On Floor Wide-Legged Seated Forward Bend   Place more blankets underneath hips (reduce hamstring stretch to facilitate lumbar extension)
    Crossed Legs On Floor   Loop a strap around knees and/or sit in chair (reduce hamstring/adductor stretch to facilitate extension)
    Cat/Cow   Only arch spine backwards and bend spine forward as far as feels comfortable (reduce flexion/extension)
    Partial Sun Salute   Limit amount of hip hinge and/or bend knees as hips hinge (reduce hamstring stretch to facilitate lumbar extension)
    Seated Twist   Allow pelvis to turn in direction of twist (reduce rotation)
    Abdominal Cultivation   Press lower back to floor (reduce extension)
    Simple Reclining Twist   Press on block between inner thighs as knees turn toward the side (reduce rotation) or place support underneath knees (reduce rotation)
    Wide-Legged Seated Forward Bend   Sit against a wall (reduce hamstring stretch to facilitate lumbar extension)
    Savasana   Place a blanket/bolster underneath knees or place legs on the seat of a chair (decrease lumbar extension)
Shoulder: Limited Flexion, Abduction, External Rotation    
    Partial Sun Salute   Take arms to front instead of out to side or take arms wider than shoulder width in a “V” shape (change movement from shoulder abduction and external rotation to limited shoulder flexion)*
    Partial Sun Salute Chair Warrior I Puppy Dog and Side Stretch Crescent One-legged balance   Only raise arms as high as feels comfortable or take arms wider than shoulder width in a “V” shape (reduce shoulder rotation)*
    Chair Warrior I Warrior II Crescent One-legged balance   Use “airplane” arms or “W” arms position (reduce or eliminate shoulder flexion and external rotation)*
Wrist: Limited Extension    
    Cat/Cow Movement   Use handlebars or make fists and press knuckles into mat or place hands on wedges or perform movement seated (reduce or eliminate wrist extension)
    Wall Push-Up   Bend elbows as much as needed to get hands to wall (reduce wrist extension)
    Wall Push-Up   Perform posture using fingertips (reduce wrist extension)
Hip: Limited Flexion, Abduction, and/or External Rotation    
    Crossed legs on floor   Place more blankets underneath hips or loop strap around knees or sit in chair (reduce hamstring/adductor stretch)    
    Warrior I   Allow torso to lean slightly forward towards front (bent) leg or place rear heel on wedge (reduce rear hip extension)
    Warrior II   Take a smaller stance or bend front knee less (reduce fron hip flexion)
    Warrior II   Allow torso to lean slightly sideways, towards your bent leg (reduce front hip flexion) Place heel of straight leg on wedge (reduce rear hip extension)
    One-Legged Balance   Use fewer blocks under leg (reduce raised-leg hip flexion)
    Crescent   Allow back knee to bend (reduce rear hip extension)
    Supine Hip Opener   Only turn knee out as much as feels comfortable and use support under bottom knee (reduce external rotation)
Knee: Limited Flexion Extension    
    Crossed legs on floor   Sit in chair (limit knee flexion)
    Chair   Bend knees as far as is comfortable (limit knee flexion)
    Warrior I Warrior II   Place rear heel on wedge (reduce rear knee extension and medial loading) Bend front knee less (reduce front knee flexion) Limit stance width (reduce rear knee extension and medial loading)
    Wide-legged seated forward bend   Sit with legs crossed or place rolled blankets under knees (reduce knee extension)
Ankle: Limited Dorsiflexion, Plantarflexion    
    Cobra   Place a blanket underneath fronts of ankles and make the blanket underneath the pelvis higher (reduce plantar flexion)
    Bridge   Use wedge, braced against wall, as support under heels (reduce dorsiflexion)

 

 

Side Stretch

 

Place back heel on wedge (reduce dorsiflexion)

* Description of arm positions for shoulder variations:
“V” arms: arms are above head and a little wider than shoulder-width, making a
V shape (maintain flexion and slightly abduct)
“Airplane” arms: arms are at sides, held out slightly wider than body (abduct arms
45°), analogous to the wings on a jet
“W” arms – arms are at sides, slightly wider than body, with elbows bent, forming
a W shape (abduct arms 45° and flex elbows to 90°)
Table 4: Yoga Empowers Seniors Study: Modifications of Asanas for Persons with Physical Limitations, by Body Region.