The office yoga revelation

I sometimes feel like the internet is one big tangle of shiny links that catch your eye, pulling you through door after door as you click, click, click, scroll, scroll, scroll. I try to limit this online rabbit-hole-ing to specific times of the day, otherwise I’d never get any work done. Because before you know it, you’ve delved into the depths of a stranger’s engagement shoot (when you know that you think the whole idea of an engagement shoot is a bit much), but there you go, devouring online content as you devour your lunch, forgetting that there is a real world, complete with real live people, on the other side of your earphones.

I have said a few times that I will not eat my lunch at my desk – that I will step away from my computer and the work deadlines it holds, even if just for the time it takes to eat a sandwich. How many times have I done that? I could probably count them on one hand.

But then! We hired a wonderful intern who suggested the magical notion of lunchtime office yoga. Revelation!

I am very new to yoga. I have been to three real lessons during which I was both completely lost (uddiyana bandha what now??) and surprisingly thrilled to find I could still do backbends and headstands – thanks high school gymnastics! So I was a bit nervous to embark on these lunchtime sessions with Carla (the best-thing-since-sliced-bread intern), who is a lot further along the whole yoga journey than I am.

But we’ve been following a 30 day yoga challenge on YouTube with Adriene (she’s really great and takes a gentle “wherever-your-body-is-today” kind of approach). These free online videos are great for any level. Each day, there’s something in them for both me and Carla – and whoever else decides to join us that day.

Each video is short – between 15 and 30 mins, give or take – so I never feel too guilty about stepping away from work for too long. But when I do sit down in front of the computer again after our yoga sessions, I feel so much more refreshed, focused, and ready to get down to business. My productivity increases hugely, my back doesn’t get sore anymore, and there is this little yoga bubble around me that makes stressful emails less likely to push my buttons.

So if you’re looking for a way to switch up your work day a bit, yoga is definitely worth a try.

I am so very on-board this yoga train. I’ve already booked for a workshop at the end of the month, which I am SO excited about.

The only downside has been people walking into the conference room when we’re in the middle of downward dog. Treats for everyone.