





ABOUT ME AND MY JOURNEY
(Claire Cunneen)

My path to Chair Yoga has been shaped by my own personal experience, a curious nature, and a deep desire to help others - especially those who have never quite felt like they belonged in traditional yoga or fitness spaces.
I began my career in the fitness industry in the late 90s, and over the past two decades I’ve taught across a wide range of environments, often working with people who don’t see themselves reflected in mainstream classes.
In many ways, I was one of them too - particularly when it came to yoga.
Everything changed when I discovered Chair Yoga.
Again and again, I witnessed how something as simple as a chair could help people move from feeling unsafe to confident, from left out to welcomed, and from wanting to give up to realising there was still a way forward.
My journey into this work truly began while teaching a Zumba Gold class for seniors. At the end of one class, I guided them through three simple breaths - and their response was immediate and powerful. That moment lit something in me.
I realised there was something missing. They needed yoga - but they needed yoga that was adapted to them.
When I couldn’t find suitable training in Australia, I travelled to New York to study with Lakshmi Voelker, the creator of Chair Yoga. That experience became a pivotal turning point, both personally and professionally.
Learning Chair Yoga transformed not only how I teach, but how I see yoga - and myself. It gave me permission to be me, and showed me that yoga truly can be for every body.
Since then, Chair Yoga has become the foundation of my work. I’ve witnessed incredible transformations - people rebuilding trust in their bodies, gaining confidence, recovering from injury, and finding a sense of ease, connection, and belonging again.
I’ve seen anxiety soften, communities form, and people begin to move through their lives with more confidence and compassion. I’ve experienced many of these shifts myself.
This is what drives everything I do.
Inclusive Chair Yoga is the natural evolution of this journey - bringing together my experience, values, and passion for creating spaces where people feel safe, supported, and truly included.
Today, I support yoga teachers and heart-led people to learn how to teach Chair Yoga in a confident, inclusive and accessible way - so they can create that same experience for others.
I truly believe that when we remove barriers and honour individual needs, we don’t just teach movement - we create a movement. One that empowers people to flourish in their practice, and carries far beyond the mat.
Whether you’re here to learn, to teach, or simply to experience Chair Yoga in a way that truly supports you - you’re very welcome here.
See you on the chair soon,
Claire x