Chair Practices

Winter Session January 21 ~ April 10, 2026
February Online Series ~ Nurture Yourself With RAIN

February 18 ~ March 11, 2026
(‘live’ online via Zoom or by recording)

Join for 4 or 8 weeks OR drop-in anytime for one class or a portion of the series!

Wednesdays
10:30-11:45 a.m. Pacific Time

Pay what you can for multiple practices or pay per practice.

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Incorporate asana, breathing, and a pause into your daily routine for dynamic aging or as restorative breaks during your work day to counter the effects of sitting for long periods. Chair practices will be dynamic, gentle, and nurturing, easing joint pain and developing resilience, strength, and stability. You are not required to transition to and from the floor, however, practices will include standing forms, inviting your body through its full range of movement, with the potential to restore this capability.

In yoga we aspire to soften and release the intensity of our identification with the outer body. Each practice is an inner pilgrimage in which we allow all aspects of ourselves (tissues, nerves, marrow, organs, attention . . . .) to be soaked in the deep tides of the asanas, breath, and vibratory pulses of the subtle body. Tias Little refers to this experience as “the alchemy of silence”, when “in the midst of our overburdened lives we connect to that still, quiet place inside.” 

February, 2026 ~ Nurture Yourself With RAIN

“We are not the survival of the fittest, we are the survival of the nurtured.” 
~ Louis Cozolino, PhD, author of The Neuroscience of Psychotherapy

Recently I felt overwhelmingly agitated, took a walk, and stumbled across a crocus that had emerged from a rocky crevice. This tiny. burst of color was so powerful in its bright energy. It inspired me to pause and notice the arising feeling and to soften, allow, and connect to my body, needs, and inner resources; and it offered nurturing that transformed the agitated energy and changed how I met the moment. This experience reignited my meditation practice and theme for this month.

Join me in February to extend our inquiry into the power of repetition. In addition to asana and pranayama, we’ll use mindfulness (being conscious without judgement) and compassion, to practice an applied meditation technique called RAIN (recognize, allow, investigate, nurture). RAIN was developed by meditation teacher and author Michele McDonald and adapted by Tara Brach, PhD, a renowned psychologist, meditation teacher, and author of Radical Acceptance.

Whether it’s our reaction to the turmoil and violence of troubled times or the inner turbulence that can be triggered by highly charged thoughts, all of us experience getting snared by highly charged beliefs or emotions that arise and can color sense of self and behavior in unintended ways. This recurrent reactivity can result in suffering and a disconnection from our inner resources. 

The fields of neuroscience and psychobiology describe this as natural responses of the brain and vagus nerve that instinctively serve as survival commands:

“The body is where we live. It’s where we fear, hope, and react. It’s where we constrict and relax. And what the body most cares about are safety and survival. When something happens in the body that is too much, too fast, or too soon, it overwhelms the body and can create trauma.”  ~ Resmaa Menakem, MSW, LICSW, SEP, My Grandmother’s Hands

Sacred texts describe these strong impressions or habitual patterns as Saṃskāras :

“Saṃskāras are mental and emotional tendencies, residues of our habitual thoughts and feelings, the ones we replay so often that they have made tracks in the field of our consciousness. ~ Sally Kempton, Meditation for the Love of It

Enhancing mindfulness and using the practice of RAIN will not erase life’s difficulties. Yet it is remarkable that the brain has an innate ability to reorganize its structure and neural connections (neuroplasticity) and that we can develop the capacity to sense the arising and subsiding of strong thoughts and emotions in the body. When practicing an applied meditation such as RAIN, re-patterning is possible. We can consciously be present in the midst of difficulty and be held in wholeness. The online ‘live’ practices will include recordings that you can use at home, OR attend by recording only.

The body, not the thinking brain, is where we experience most of our pain, pleasure, and joy, and where we process most of what happens to us. It is also where we do most of our healing, including our emotional and psychological healing. And it is where we experience resilience and a sense of flow.

~ Resmaa Menakem from My Grandmother’s Hands

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Payment Options

Sliding Scale Payment Options

Sliding scale is a tool that allows my services to be obtained at multiple price points based on the circumstances of my students and clients. The sliding scale addresses economic justice and represents the idea that financial resources, including income, are not and should not be the only determining factor in whether or not someone can access services/care/etc. I’ve made a commitment to offering a sliding scale model as a way to contribute to a more equitable world.

For a sliding scale model to work, it relies on truthfulness, respect for complexity, and accountability. I trust you to be honest in your assessment of your financial reality. I do not receive any outside funding to supplement sliding scale discounts. This model is an attempt to balance the fair value of my time and energy and the multiple realities of economic access and privilege that exist within our community. I’m open to ongoing communication about our economic experiences and this model.

Please choose a level that is best for you now.

A portion of class proceeds will be contributed to organizations that are centering marginalized voices, at the intersection of spirituality and justice, and committed to creating a beloved community of mutual care.

Contributions in 2022 include:

• Lake City Partners, Seattle WA mission is to end homelessness by providing shelter, respite care, work opportunities and other services, so that people have increased opportunities for stabilization, recovery, and permanent housing.
• Young Women Empowered (Y-WE), Seattle WA cultivates the power of diverse young women to be creative leaders and courageous change makers through transformative programs within a collaborative community of belonging.
• Cerddorion Vocal Ensemble, NYC, is on of New York City’s most highly regarded volunteer choral ensembles. It is known for its eclectic repertoire, interpretive depth, and technical expertise in many styles. In 2023 the ensemble will collaborate with The Unsung Collective. Since 2011, the ensemble annually offers world premiers from its Emerging Composers Competition.
• Social Justice Fund (SJF), Seattle WA, is a foundation working at the frontlines of social change. SJF funds organizations led by people who are most directly affected by the problems that the organization or project is addressing. SJF uses Giving Projects, a unique participatory model which provides significant financial resources to organizations that work toward long-term progressive social change.

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Working with Wendy in a class begins with her intention to create a brave and sacred space for each participant. She offers her discernment through one-on-one observation, and she generously shares guidance in the moment for immediate adjustments. I have also benefited from private sessions with Wendy in which I received helpful instruction to integrate into my home practice. All my encounters with Wendy are rewarding, and I look forward to each week.

~ Chéri H. Olney, Greenbank, WA, wellness and life-style coach

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Pay with PayPal

Sliding Scale Payment Options

Sliding scale is a tool that allows my services to be obtained at multiple price points based on the circumstances of my students and clients. The sliding scale addresses economic justice and represents the idea that financial resources, including income, are not and should not be the only determining factor in whether or not someone can access services/care/etc. I have made a commitment to offering a sliding scale model as a way to contribute to a more equitable world.

For a sliding scale model to work, it relies on truthfulness, respect for complexity, and accountability. I trust you to be honest in your assessment of your financial reality. I do not receive any outside funding to supplement sliding scale discounts. This model is an attempt to balance the fair value of my time and energy and the multiple realities of economic access and privilege that exist within our community. I am open to ongoing communication about our economic experiences and this model.

Please choose the level that is best for you now.

Proceeds Contributions

A portion of class proceeds will be contributed to organizations that are centering marginalized voices, at the intersection of spirituality and justice, and committed to creating a beloved community of mutual care.

Contributions in 2022 include:

• Lake City Partners, Seattle WA mission is to end homelessness by providing shelter, respite care, work opportunities and other services, so that people have increased opportunities for stabilization, recovery, and permanent housing.
• Young Women Empowered (Y-WE), Seattle WA cultivates the power of diverse young women to be creative leaders and courageous change makers through transformative programs within a collaborative community of belonging.
• Cerddorion Vocal Ensemble, NYC, is on of New York City’s most highly regarded volunteer choral ensembles. It is known for its eclectic repertoire, interpretive depth, and technical expertise in many styles. In 2023 the ensemble will collaborate with The Unsung Collective. Since 2011, the ensemble annually offers world premiers from its Emerging Composers Competition.
• Social Justice Fund (SJF), Seattle WA, is a foundation working at the frontlines of social change. SJF funds organizations led by people who are most directly affected by the problems that the organization or project is addressing. SJF uses Giving Projects, a unique participatory model which provides significant financial resources to organizations that work toward long-term progressive social change.

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