Private yoga and chair yoga at home in Roseland, NJ

What a session feels like

Most sessions start seated. The instructor talks you through a few minutes of breathing, then gentle neck, shoulder and wrist movements, then spine twists and leg stretches you can do without getting on the floor. If standing is comfortable, some balance work follows, always with a chair or counter close by.

It's quiet and unhurried. Nobody's going to ask you to put your foot behind your head. The point is to feel better at the end than at the start.

Instructors usually start every session by asking how you slept and what feels tight today. A rough night means a softer session. A good day might mean a little more standing work. That flexibility is the whole reason to do it privately.

Private yoga versus a class

Roseland's senior services listings include a yoga class for seniors, and if you enjoy a group and can get there, try it. Private yoga at home suits people who have a specific stiffness to work on, who move more slowly than a class can wait for, or who just don't go out much in winter.

With one student, the instructor can adjust every pose to you. Bad left knee, a shoulder that won't go overhead, a hip replacement two years ago: all of that changes the session.

Some people do both. They go to a class when the weather is good and book a private session at home every other week to work on the poses that give them trouble. An instructor is happy to fit around whatever else is on the calendar, including the Senior Society trips.

Breathing, mostly

People are often surprised that the breathing turns out to be the part they use most. A slow breathing pattern learned in yoga is something you can do lying awake at 3am or sitting in a waiting room. A good instructor teaches one or two you can use without them in the room.

Roseland is a quiet place, and Becker Park, with its open land and bird watching, is about as peaceful as Essex County gets. Some students like to take what they learned to the park pavilion on a calm morning, sit, and breathe.

Booking and cost

Instructors set an hourly rate between $50 and $150. A 1 hour visit is typical for yoga, and some people prefer 1.5 hours for a slower pace with rest built in. Families pay a $2.50 booking fee and a 10% service fee at checkout. Cancellation is free up to 3 days before; within 12 hours the full price is charged.