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What is Office yoga?

Answer
By Jade Lizzie | Published: December 13, 2016 | Last updated: April 6, 2018

Office yoga is a fantastic way to bring all the benefits of yoga into an office environment. There are few office-related health and well-being complaints that yoga can’t positively impact.

In recent years, more and more organizations have invested in having yoga instructors come to their offices to run yoga classes for employees. These classes might be early morning, squeezed into a lunch break, or something to look forward to after work. (What does your practice (sadhana) look like if you're too busy?)

On a physical level, Office yoga is beneficial because the typical office lifestyle causes problems in a number of ways. Too much sitting can tighten the hips and lead to low back pain. Being desk-bound can also lead to postural problems, such as the infamous forward slump. The amount of time spent sitting also means an increased sedentary lifestyle, which is not optimal for physical health. Office yoga gets workers out of their chairs and moving their bodies in different ways. It lengthens and releases tight spots, especially the shoulders and hips, while strengthening weaker areas, such as the core and upper body. Releasing the hips and strengthening the core can often relieve low back pain. Office yoga also builds postural awareness, making office yogis less likely to get locked into an uncomfortable slump for hours on end.

Mentally, Office yoga is the ideal counter for high-pressure working environments. The breathing exercises and mindful movements of yoga, coupled with the endorphin hit of the exercise are proven to reduce stress and anxiety. Happy workers are more productive and focused workers, so it’s little wonder that organizations are getting on board with bringing Office yoga to their staff. (How does yoga soothe anxiety?)

But what if you're not one of the lucky ones who works in an office where Office yoga is available? Fear not — there are plenty of ways you can bring yoga to your workplace instead. You only have to type “office yoga” into the YouTube search function to find a whole range of online tutorials for ways to incorporate yoga into your working day. And where you lead, others will follow. Imagine a world where your colleagues do eagle pose arms mid-meeting, take seated cat-cow at their desks and warrior pose while they wait for the kettle to boil! With Office yoga on the rise, it's all possible.

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Written by Jade Lizzie | Yoga teacher, writer and health and wellness geek.

Jade Lizzie

Jade is a yoga teacher, blogger and health and wellness geek. Her mission is to share the happiness that yoga has brought into her life.

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