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Workplace Yoga

Having worked in an office environment for over 5 years. I have lived the aches and pains of being in the same position for a large portion of the day and understand the impact it has on the body. To repeatedly use the same muscles to click and type all day is definitely not the most natural thing for us to be doing! Many of the office workers I teach even encounter repetitive strain injuries (RSI) from repeating tasks like clicking, writing and typing. I myself struggled with an RSI injury a few years back due to not taking proper breaks, it was painful and frustrating, but helped me to be the person I am today-a passionate workplace wellbeing advocate!

In addition to physical aspects of work, mentally we begin to fatigue and struggle to maintain focus on our work, and generally become less productive! We overdevelop certain muscles repeated movements, while others weaken, and we let our posture suffer by sitting at a desk for long periods. This over working and not taking the time to switch off leads us to stress. When the body is stressed it activates our primal flight or fight reaction-in short the body feels like it is under attack! It starts to panic and so the nervous system releases hormones into the body which increase heart rate and blood pressure and slow down digestion. Basically your body is getting ready to run and escape the situation! So stress can contribute to many PHYSICAL health problems like high blood pressure, heart disease, obesity and diabetes. Some studies also show that stress can weaken the immune system leaving people more susceptible to infections and illnesses.

Mental health issues that also may result from stress include anxiety, fatigue, depression and burn out. Due to this mental exhaustion the amount of leave taken due to this is startlingly high. In 2016/2017 According to HSE (Health and Safety Executive):

  • Stress, depression or anxiety accounted for 46% of new cases of work related ill-health.
  • 12.5 million work days were lost due to those suffering from the conditions.

As an employer think how much energy, time and money you spend on dealing with work related ill health?

What steps are you are taking prevent it, and support your staff? If the answer is that you feel more could be done……this is where I can provide a solution!

Drawing upon my office experience I take care in tailoring my classes for the office bod’s needs and wants! Each class will also have a short meditation helping employees to quieten the mind and regain presence. We also use breathing techniques throughout the practice to help employees centre themselves-they can take these techniques back into their working week and everyday life to manage stress. I understand the practicalities of a working environment-the classes are bespoke to fit your specific needs and centre around your employees workload. For example for a lunchtime class, I can create classes that are less based around strength and more focused towards stretching and flexibility, so workers can take part whilst wearing their office wear without worrying about getting a sweat on!

I can provide mats, although a suitable space will need to be provided-this could be a meeting room or cleared factory floor! We can perform a short risk assessment of the space together.  I offer a FREE consultation appointment to discuss how the yoga classes can meet your workforce’s wellbeing needs. If you need anymore reasons to give me a bell-The first class is HALF PRICE!

Classes are £50 per session, discounted when booked as a block.
Get in touch to discuss your requirements and how I can support you in looking after your staff’s workplace wellbeing.

Employee Testimonials

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“I work as a receptionist – so office based sitting at desk all day and having phone under my ear / suffer from mild neck and shoulder aches and though I cycle to work – often unable to stretch out muscles – busy life style never enough time to fit in exercise classes – fitness always a long term unattainable vision!

Before Sally’s sessions I felt stressed/distracted by work items and initially found myself thinking about all the things I needed to do! And physically stiff and seized up!

At first I was concerned I would be pressured into doing more than I felt safe to do, however Sally is brilliant at reinforcing to go at my own pace and listen to my body so that anxiety went in first session! Also I only focus on what I am doing in the class. Since coming to the sessions I am more flexible and feel more confident just in daily activities; movement in general sitting, standing, walking, better energy levels and feeling positive.

I Feel better in myself and more confident physically and sleep really soundly after a yoga session and feeling confident in myself and more motivated to become fitter and healthier long term.

After work yoga has really helped me at work: Definite change in posture at the desk and awareness of when I need to take a break or feeling physically strained in my muscles also I can do yoga stretches at my desk. 
Breathing – pattern has changed so was unaware I had been shallow breathing – now breathing fully (using all lungs and aware when I do not do this)

Sally has personally helped me to move and stretch differently and that this is part of daily activities – can use the techniques all the time i.e. transfers sitting to standing and posture.

How important for my wellbeing it is to listen to my body and carry out daily stretches and gentle movement – wish I had started earlier in my life! Sally’s style of teaching is perfect! Sally is a lovely human being and I feel empowered being in her class!”

“I had never done Yoga before and to be honest always enjoyed more physical exercise. Physically I am already very active 3/4 gym sessions a week plus 40 min dog walk every day.

After coming to the sessions my balance has improved, I definitely wasn’t aware of how important breathing techniques inhale/exhaling helps you-this is something I now think about and use when I am at the gym

I am so grateful to my workplace for putting the wellness of their staff so high up as a priority. I am fortunate that my job is not physical and don’t have aches and pains.

I have always struggled to empty my mind and relax to be honest bu since the sessions with Sally I am now starting to understand.

Sally is a lovely, friendly, happy person. She explains about the moves, the benefits of doing them and also gives different options. I have really enjoyed doing the classes.”