Yoga in the Workplace
By Kerry MacDonald
Kerry MacDonald is a co-owner and operator of Fashion Villa in Rothschild, a yoga instructor at 5 Koshas, and also a yoga student, currently enrolled in the 300-hour teacher-training program offered through 5 Koshas.
Yoga has been one way I care for myself so that I can continue to do what I love. As a business owner handling multiple roles— payroll, inventory and HR to name a few—I stand for many hours and work with multiple clients a day. It’s important that I keep up my energy level so that I am able to engage with my customers.
There are so many physical and mental benefits involved in yoga. If you are a frontline worker, yoga can be a good option to help with the physical and mental demands of your job.
In addition to physical postures, your routine can include breathing, meditation and relaxation techniques. Yoga encourages mental and physical relaxation, which helps reduce stress and anxiety. The physical postures promote flexibility, relieve tension and pain. Personally, the more I practice, the easier it is to remain calm and focused. Muscle tension from physical work and stress are something I work on in my practice regularly.
Two postures I practice that help with the mental and physical demands of working in and running my own business include:
Tadasana (Mountain pose): This helps with focus, balance, breathing and stretching all in one.
Chakrakavasana (Matching breath & movement): This is a standing pose you can learn to do at your desk or counter. Stand next to your desk or counter (hands on desk), inhale lengthen spine, exhale bend knees, contract belly muscles, bend elbows and rest forehead on edge of desk, pushing sit bones back. This posture will stretch low back, hips and shoulders. It’s a total stress-reliever.
If you are currently a student of yoga and want to expand your knowledge and practice, consider a 200-hour or 300-hour teacher-training program. The 200-hour training gives you the basics for teaching or for your personal practice. The 300-hour training expands your horizon to a whole new level and the benefits are amazing. For me it’s the ‘why.’
- Why—breathe adaptations with the benefits of calming or energizing.
- Why—physical adaptations for shoulders, hips, back and neck.
It is an amazing feeling to help someone adapt their practice to better benefit them individually. It is an amazing feeling to adapt your own practice to benefit yourself.
Join Kerry for Hybrid: Evolving Yoga on Tuesday Mornings 8:30-9:30 AM. You may register HERE
Learn more about Kerry HERE