Author Type

Undergraduate Student

Publication Date

Spring 5-27-2026

Document Type

Instructional Material

Executive Summary

Promoting Mobility and Emotional Well-Being Through Chair Yoga in Women Experiencing Homelessness

This paper summarizes a project completed by nursing students at a women’s day center and transitional housing program in Washington state that supports women experiencing homelessness as they work toward stability. The center provides daytime services to more than 200 women daily who experience chronic stress, trauma, limited access to healthcare, and environmental barriers. These challenges occur within a broader regional crisis, as the 2024 Point‑in‑Time Count states that 16,868 individuals are experiencing homelessness in King County, a 26% increase from 2022 (King County Regional Homelessness Authority, 2024). Women experiencing homelessness are particularly vulnerable to sedentary behavior, musculoskeletal deconditioning, poor circulation, skin breakdown, and mood disturbances, due to limited autonomy and lack of safe spaces for physical activity. To address these issues, this paper proposes chair yoga as a low‑barrier, trauma‑informed intervention that promotes strengthening, circulation, and emotional well‑being (Kiernan et al., 2021). Evidence from a similar program demonstrates that yoga and mindfulness improve physical function, reduce stress, and foster resilience (NPR Illinois, 2024). Furthermore, chair yoga is a feasible, evidence-based option for the women’s center.

Background

The setting of this project was a women’s shelter that serves women experiencing homelessness in a dense urban area where individuals face significant socioeconomic and health challenges. A windshield survey showed limited green space, heavy traffic, few safe walking areas, and minimal indoor community resources, all contributing to sedentary behavior. Based on these findings, we focused on the nursing diagnosis of impaired physical mobility related to sedentary lifestyle and restricted access to safe physical activity. These mobility limitations also affected mood and skin integrity, concerns commonly seen in this population. Data from our intervention supported this as participants initially reported stiffness and decreased mood, but after chair yoga, several women noted improved comfort, increased movement, and better mood.  Activities with Rational

We began our planning of our project through a windshield survey to assess the community, available resources, safety concerns, and barriers to health. In addition, we engaged in on-going conversations with residents and staff members over six weeks to better understand individual needs, preferences, and challenges. Rapport and trust were gradually built through regular visits, group arts-and-craft activities, active listening, and informal discussions. Establishing therapeutic relationships is essential to promote resident comfort, engagement, and a trusting supportive environment.

Chair yoga was implemented for residents at a women’s day center to increase physical activity levels as they face limited access to safe exercise opportunities due to insecure housing. The intervention is tailored to meet the personal preferences of residents while maintaining safety, accessibility, and evidence-based practices. Chair yoga has been shown to enhance physical, emotional, and social health (Vincent et al., n.d.).

Upon arrival at the facility, we ensured safety preparing a clean space through table and chair arrangement. Participants completed a pre-survey to establish a baseline of physical activity, comfort, mood, and readiness for exercise. We began the session by explaining the purpose of chair yoga and initial breathing techniques. This helped participants expand their current knowledge, increase preparedness, and support emotional regulation through relaxation. (Tew et al., 2024). Warm-up consisted of a gentle range of motion exercises to promote mobility and circulation to minimize injury (Smith et al, 2025). Main exercises are designed to promote strength, flexibility, and balance. We continuously monitored posture to maintain safety, demonstrated movements, provided encouragement, and offered modifications to accommodate varying health statuses. The session concluded with a cool down that includes stretching to reduce tension and guided mindfulness to improve mental well-being (Smith et al., 2025). Social interaction was encouraged throughout the session to build community engagement, foster a supportive environment, and reduce social isolation. Chair yoga supports the expected goal of improving mobility, strength, relaxation, and community engagement in a safe and welcoming environment. At the conclusion of our session, we celebrated our time with cake and had participants complete a post survey to measure outcomes and evaluate the effectiveness of chair yoga.

Outcome

The expected outcomes of this paper were to improve physical mobility, enhance mood and emotional well-being, and increase awareness of safe physical activity options among women experiencing homelessness. Additional goals included promoting social engagement and creating a supportive and welcoming environment.

The outcomes were met to a significant extent. There were 10 residents that completed both the pre- and post-surveys during the chair yoga intervention. Presurvey results showed that many participants experienced stiffness, pain, and stress throughout the week. Following the intervention, six residents reported less stiffness; all 10 reported less pain, and nine stated that their mood improved after chair yoga. Seven participants also reported feeling more confident stretching their bodies after the session. These findings suggest that chair yoga effectively supports mobility, confidence, and stress reduction while aligning with the project’s goals.

Strengths of the intervention included its accessibility, adaptability, and low-impact nature, allowing participation across varying physical abilities. The group setting also promoted trust, social interaction, and emotional support among residents. Building rapport throughout the weeks helped increase participation and created an environment where residents felt comfortable engaging in the activity.

Limitations of this paper include a small participant size, limited intervention sessions, time restriction, and reliance on self-reported data. Future studies should incorporate multiple chair yoga sessions to assess long-term impacts and benefits. Additionally, objective measurement of physical activity would be beneficial to further strengthen the effectiveness of chair yoga. The consistent improvements in mobility, mood, and confidence demonstrate the value and feasibility of chair yoga as a sustainable wellness intervention within shelter environments. It is a sustainable form of exercise as it requires minimal equipment and space. Poses are adaptable; stretching and breathing techniques can be done independently, and educational materials are reusable thus supporting long-term engagement and wellness. The project successfully met its short-term goals of increasing movement, improving morale, and promoting healthier coping strategies among participants.

Conclusion

In conclusion, this paper demonstrated that meaningful health promotion within underserved communities requires interventions that are accessible and responsive to both physical and emotional needs. Chair yoga provided women experiencing homelessness with a safe opportunity to improve mobility, reduce stress, and feel more connected within the shelter environment. Improvements shown in the pre- and post-survey responses highlight how simple, low-cost interventions can positively impact overall well-being when designed to meet participants where they are. Overall, this paper reinforced the importance of community-based nursing interventions in promoting health equity and improving quality of life for vulnerable populations.

References

Kiernan, S., Mockler, D., Ní Cheallaigh, C., & Broderick, J. (2021). Physical functioning limitations and physical activity of people experiencing homelessness: A scoping review. HRB Open Research, 3, 14. https://doi.org/10.12688/hrbopenres.13011.2

King County Regional Homelessness Authority. (2024). 2024 Point-in-Time Count. https://kcrha.org/community-data/king-county-point-in-time-count/

NPR Illinois. (2024, February 12). With yoga and meditation, homeless shelter helps women to heal their minds, bodies. https://www.nprillinois.org/2024-02-12/with-yoga-and-meditation-homeless-shelter-helps-women-to-heal-their-minds-bodies

Smith, J., Buessing, A., Pierce, C., Hybarger, P., Antonowich, T., Akins, W., & Smith, B. (2025). Physical and Mental Benefits of Chair Yoga for Older Adults: A Case Series. International Journal of Exercise Science, 18(5), 1166–1174. https://doi.org/10.70252/COQS7170

Tew, G., Wiley, L., Ward, L., Hugill-Jones, J., Maturana, C., Fairhurst, C., Bell, K., Bissell, L., Booth, A., Howsam, J., Mount, V., Rapley, T., Ronaldson, S., Rose, F., Torgerson, D., Yates, D., & Hewitt, C. (2024). Effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of offering a chair-based yoga program in addition to usual care in older adults with multiple long-term conditions: a pragmatic, parallel group, open label, randomized controlled trial. NIHR Open Research, 3, 52. https://doi.org/10.3310/nihropenres.13465.2

Vincent, J., Copeland, L., & Washburn, L. (n.d.). Chair yoga poses: How to get started with chair yoga. University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture. https://www.uaex.uada.edu/life-skills-wellness/health/physical-activity-resources/chair-yoga.aspx

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