Yoga in the workplace is low-cost, uses minimal equipment and with a trained yoga instructor, it can be modified for employees with varying levels of fitness and health conditions.
A 45-minute yoga class will be taught as follows:
Class will be a non-intimidating environment where students are guided through poses and are encouraged to modify poses according to their needs. The instructor will adapt the class to the student’s abilities.
Students can expect the instructor to invest in their well-being and will encourage communication so that students will have the best experience. The positive feelings that students will achieve from class will keep them motivated to return.
Students should bring a mat and wear what makes them feel comfortable and will allow for free-flowing movement. Socks and shoes are not needed as the yoga mat is designed for bare feet. Optional props include: yoga blocks, yoga strap or soft belt and/or hand towel.
A well-rounded yoga practice focuses on improving all of these areas of fitness. In addition, yoga can improve emotional health, cognitive function and can be an effective tool in pain management as well as many other health benefits. Yoga has proven to be so effective that physical therapists are prescribing yoga poses to their patients.
While a variety of fitness classes can be taught at work, yoga positively affects common musculoskeletal conditions found in the workplace, such as tightness and pain in the shoulders, back and hips. Studies have shown that employees who participate in yoga during the middle of the day are better able to concentrate on work tasks. Yoga promotes positive thinking and reduces stress creating a more productive work environment.
Many people have the impression that yoga is about being flexible, but physical flexibility is not the primary goal of a yoga practice. Yoga is about balancing flexibility, strength, motivation and relaxation. Yoga challenges students where they need it, transforming limitations into strengths, making the student more balanced.
Nichelle Slavens has ten years of experience teaching yoga in the workplace and more than 20 years of experience developing and managing corporate well-being programs. Nichelle’s yoga training is from YogaFit which emphasizes sports science, alignment principles and teaching yoga in a safe, accessible and adaptable way. In addition, Nichelle is a Certified Exercise Physiologist and maintains the Exercise is Medicine Level 2 credential from the American College of Sports Medicine. This allows Nichelle to provide exercise guidance for people who are healthy or have medically controlled health conditions and utilize behavioral support strategies to help participants successfully integrate regular physical activity into their lives. Using her education and experience, she has the skills to teach a class that allows for a range of fitness levels, body types and health conditions fostering a non-intimidating environment.
