Yoga for the Elderly at ESEA Community Centre

The East & Southeast Asian (ESEA) Community Centre runs biweekly yoga classes for elders, taught in Cantonese. These sessions take place every other Friday and are freely available to around 20–25 local elders, with occasional participation from parents visiting their children at university.

Classes are tailored to the needs of older participants, with a focus on leg strength and footwork to improve balance, hand-eye coordination, and breath regulation to build physical confidence and reduce the risk of falls. Over time, many elders have grown stronger through consistent practice, including one 99-year-old participant who enjoys demonstrating her beautiful expression of malasana. During the summer months, classes sometimes take place in the centre’s backyard.Following each session, a volunteer-led kitchen prepares a nourishing community lunch, open to participants and local visitors. These shared meals have been a vital part of the programme for over four decades, fostering social connection, reducing isolation, and strengthening community ties.

The programme demonstrates the importance of accessibility and cultural relevance, bringing yoga directly to a community often excluded from mainstream classes. It offers a welcoming, language-accessible space where elders can enjoy movement, connection, and support.

For more information, check out ESEA's Instagram here.

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