Chair Yoga: Stretch, Reset & Recharge
In recognition of Mental Health Awareness Month, AIA Honolulu's Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Committee invites you to take a well-deserved pause with a free 30-minute virtual Chair Yoga session led by Diane Ako.
Architects and design professionals spend countless hours at our desks, in front of computer screens, and managing demanding schedules. This gentle chair yoga session is designed to help release tension, improve posture and mobility, reduce stress, and provide a moment to reset—both physically and mentally. No prior yoga experience is necessary, and all movements can be done from the comfort of your office or home using a standard chair.
Whether you need a midday stretch or simply want to prioritize your wellbeing, we hope you'll join us for this relaxing and accessible session.
Registration is required to receive the Zoom link. There is no cost to attend.
Session Details
- Format: Virtual (Zoom)
- Duration: 30 minutes
- Cost: Free
For chair yoga, please come in comfortable clothes that allow you to bend over or stretch sideways. Pants (not skirts) for women, and hair ties, are a good idea. If you have the space and ability to stand at your desk, I will also offer that option, so please bring your yoga mat. If you are using a yoga mat, then you probably know yoga is done without shoes or socks, so be ready to take those off.
About the Instructor
Diane Ako (RYT-200) teaches hatha yoga and chair yoga. She was certified in 2018 and started her yoga career teaching senior citizens at a senior center in 2020. Those senior facilities were closed during the coronavirus pandemic, but Diane continued sharing the healing benefits of yoga by volunteering to teach essential workers at a restaurant (outside, after hours), and forming a Yard Yoga group with her next door neighbors. In 2022, Yoga Under The Palms hired her as an instructor for beginner and intermediate classes. Additionally, in 2025 she started offering weekly lunch-break chair yoga classes to her coworkers at the state, where her primary job is.
Diane’s classes are gentle, with a focus on clear, accessible instruction. Her classes are designed for beginners, with an emphasis on building confidence and proper alignment. She can easily accommodate intermediate students who want a deeper challenge. Her goal is to help every student feel grounded, supported, and connected in their practice.
Ako is a Native Hawaiian woman who values public service and giving back to her community. She is a single mother of one biological child, a foster daughter, and two cats. In her spare time she teaches yoga, makes independent films, and keeps hoping she’ll one day nail that Tittibhasana (firefly) pose.
