Organizing yoga classes is now a practice anchored in the daily life of many companies. It is no longer rare to see sessions led by external speakers or directly by passionate employees. But where does such enthusiasm for this discipline in the workplace come from? Focus on the best reasons to take the plunge.
1/ Yoga soothes tension
Yoga helps you control your breathing and let go. You gain energy while extricating yourself from the hectic pace of corporate schedules: you detach yourself from a sometimes anxiety-provoking schedule. Really disconnecting in your workplace frees you from accumulating stress and omnipresent digital distractions like the phone or computer. Ariane, employee in a company specializing in artificial intelligence, testifies: “Since the introduction of yoga classes in our coworking space, I use this hour to completely disconnect. It calms me down and allows me to come back to my desk more focused than ever. It’s a bit like escaping for an hour on a paradise island, far from all pressure. »
2/ A friendly atmosphere to share
Participating in a group session allows you to take off the mask and escape the strictly hierarchical framework of the company. The caring environment encourages abandonment and sincerity, making contact with other participants occurs naturally. The simple pleasure of sharing a moment of well-being creates a real feeling of belonging. Ariane tells us: “I discovered my manager, Olivier, in a completely different light. I did not suspect such sensitivity and open-mindedness in him. Since then, our relations have been significantly simplified. I even dare to send him informal messages, which I would never have done before. I was also able to interact with colleagues from other departments that I came across without ever speaking to them. »
3/ The discovery of a new activity
Setting up yoga classes on your premises gives your teams the opportunity to introduce themselves to a new practice. Many have never tried and would not take the plunge outside, due to lack of time or due to the registration process. This saves them additional journeys and unnecessary logistics. Olivier remembers: “I had gone to take a nap in the break room when I saw a session set up. I had never taken the time to try yoga until then. I jumped in on a whim, thinking it was the perfect opportunity. It did me a world of good and I absolutely do not regret my decision. »
4/ Avoid the ailments linked to a sedentary lifestyle
Yoga adapts to all profiles and offers targeted postures to counteract the effects of prolonged sitting – the real scourge of office work. It restores mobility to the body and stretches the posterior chain to permanently prevent back pain. Supervision by a qualified teacher remains essential to adopt the right alignments from the start. Ariane says: “Before classes, I often came home with stiffness in my lower back. They gradually disappeared. I now feel better in my head, but also much more at ease in my body. »
5/ A lever for personal development
While it is common to use an external service provider, you can also leverage internal talent. Organizing sessions guided by experienced or passionate employees strengthens commitment and agility within teams. Ariane remembers: “One week when the speaker was absent, my colleagues pushed me to guide the session and coach them (laughs). I let myself be tempted and shared my practice with them. It was an eye-opening experience. I discovered a real appetite for transmission and coaching, which helped me progress enormously on a personal level. »
