I teach really awesome people

I went to teach my corporate Yogi's today and to my surprise they all showed up to class wearing team Yoga shirts! Their boss had company Yoga shirts ordered for their weekly Yoga class taught by yours truly. I was totally floored. The best part? In a couple of weeks I get my own team Yoga shirt! I mean the people I teach Yoga to are seriously AWESOME. They work so hard at their down dogs. YAY!

In conclusion...Why corporate Yoga?! This is why. You need it. Its awesome. Call me... I'll do it with you. :)

Why you should bring Yoga into your office!

I have been out of the 9-5 world for years now...nowadays its become more of an 8:30-6 or 7 kind of culture, no? What I know, since I've left that is my stress levels in my body have greatly decreased! I don't have people breathing down my back, I don't have to get on crowded subways, I don't have to work at my desk because its so busy, I don't have to...etc etc the list goes on. I also don't make as much $ and have to pay for my own health insurance which it's not even good health insurance! Anyways my main point here is the stress level! It's amazing that the amount of stress I deal with is just so much less. I will say mostly because of the subway ride itself. Sometimes I remember, just getting to work on the Subway made my day crappy to begin with. Smashed into a small dirty car underground and squished up against people I don't know? UGHHH. Ok this is the stuff I was talking about when it comes to prana and controlling your energy. Because its easily effected first thing in the morning! All we need is for one bad attitude on a subway car or rushing down a platform to create a chain of bad moods to bring into their offices! Our energy leaks out and infects other people. So make it light instead of negative!

This brings me to another point. I teach Yoga in offices. It's absolutely awesome for the people I teach. Their boss, manager or company sets it up for them and I honestly believe it makes for better employee relationships. Here is a list of great things it does:
1- the employees like their boss a better for shelling out and setting up something nice for them.
2- it helps people have better relationships with their co-workers because now they're all doing something together that's not "work".
3- they get a moment in their workspace that is not stressful. This helps them equate something pleasant with their work environment.
4- if they've had a stressful or bad day, they get the chance to leave feeling good despite the events of the day.
5- physical exercise after a day of hunching over your computers, running around helping customers, or whatever type of work you do all day!
6- the breath work alone can slow down your system that's been amped from stress and coffee.
7- It gives everyone a little more energy! This is especially great for a mid day session.
8- Those who have never tried yoga and might not be so inclined to walk into a studio are now introduced to a new hobby. If you're a beginner, its a great way to get started. You're not paying for the class and there's no excuses, its right there in your office!
9- Having something given to you by your job/company really makes your attitude towards work more respectful, especially if its something like Yoga which has so many great returns
10- an office that breathes together works smoothly together.

So get some Yoga into your office! I see the benefits with the people I teach so instantly! Talk to your boss, manager, HR person! I can come to your office/shop/showroom/etc...everyone brings their own mats and I can usually provide 2-3 extras. We can vinyasa in your showrooms, conference rooms or a retail space! Some of the classes I teach are Vinyasa style, some are focused more focused on breath work, light stretching and meditation. Get some Yoga in your life!

Stop chatting, stop texting!!!!

Technology is killing us! OK computer freaks and geeks (yeah I am one too), look we spend way too many hours hunched over a keyboard...and the texting has got to be making it all worse. Is your chest all concaved and back all hunch back of Notre Dame? I am constantly hearing more and more from friends and colleagues who have careers in which they are stuck in front of a computer developing serious back injuries. No, not problems, like straight up injuries. Some injuries so bad you might think they got hit by a NYC cab. Instead, its from sitting on their booties typing away as I am right now for maybe 8-14 hrs a day and not taking the time out to get up and take a walk or a quick stretch. Don't get me wrong, technology is awesome and great, but we, as healthy, conscious people must find a way to compensate for the toll its taking on our bodies.

I cannot stress the importance of staying active! Below are some great ideas for maintaining good posture and not allowing the muscles in your body to degenerate.

1. Set a timer on that trusty smartphone or blackberry that goes off every 30min-1hr reminding you to get up and walk a lap around the office or take a down dog or uttanasana.

2. Go outside for lunch and take a short walk. This will also make you a more efficient worker!

3. Do some stretches in our chair.
-Interlace the fingers, press the palms up to the ceiling, pull the shoulders down and away from the ears, relax the neck.
-Drop the head to the right side, place the right hand over the right ear and let gravity stretch the side of your neck. Switch sides.
-Neck and shoulder rolls, easy peasy!
-Chair dips
-I am sure you're capable of coming up with even more chair stretches!

4. Maintain good posture. Roll the shoulders back and down. Keep the shoulders above the hips. When standing shoulders, hips and ankles all in line. Tuck the tailbone under. Feel pressure on the lower back? Try putting something under your seat to raise up the booty an inch or two, taking away the bend in your lower back.

5. Breathing exercises. My favorite breathing exercise to practice in releasing tension is square breathing. Inhale for 4, hold for 4, exhale for 4, hold for 4. Repeat. Breathing can do amazing things for the tension you hold in your neck, shoulders and back when feeling stressed.

6. If you already feel like your body is suffering from all this computer time, contact my friend Alex! He's really been a big help to a client of mine who has major back injuries that even Physical Therapy didn't do much for. He's so knowledgeable about the human anatomy and he has reasonable prices!

With that said, I taught a very slow paced and restorative Yoga class today which is a nice switch up from my regular rigorous Vinyasa type of style.