a
g
Yo
In the workplace
Nearly all adults will experience some back
or neck pain in their life. Back pain is the
leading cause of long-term sickness in the
UK, responsible for more than 15 million lost
workdays in 2013, according to the NHS. Are
you sitting down right now reading this article?
The majority of people in the West lead a more sedentary lifestyle,
compared to previous generations. Many of us spend a large
amount of our working day in a seated position, and even in
our ‘down time’ we are less active. Humans were not designed
to remain in the same position, with little or no movement, for
extended periods of time, we need to stay mobile, to keep our
bodies and in fact our minds healthy. Some work places have
brought in adjustable tables, allowing employees to work sitting
or standing, encouraging movement, rather than remaining in one
position.
So, how do our bodies react to stress and what can be done
to reduce this? The sympathetic nervous system produces
adrenaline to prepare us for physical exertion, when there is no
outlet this results in stress. However, through movement and
exercise the body releases endorphins, which can make us, feel
better, but can also reduce pain. In our hunter/gatherer days this
would have happened in times of fighting animals or each other,
or running away from danger. These days our stresses mostly
come from work and day-to-day life, without the ability to ‘fight
them off’ or in fact run away, although we may often feel like it.
So, instead of a mass evacuation of office buildings, I am going to
give some simple ideas of how yoga techniques can help release
shoulder tension or gently stretch the front of the hips and back,
while at work. A breathing technique can also offer a moment of
rest during a busy day and may help with refocusing.
Yoga has grown in popularity in the past decades and continues
to do so. There are now many different schools and forms of
20
yoga, from simple classes to people practicing on paddle boards.
Yet for many yoga is still not something they would consider
trying out, due to being worried about having to be flexible,
being put off by photos of yogis tying themselves into knots or
maybe thinking that there is an esoteric or religious aspect to
the practice. Although yoga originates from India, the physical
practice of yoga has no link to Hinduism, or requires you to
become a Hindu. There is in fact a whole spectrum of yoga styles,
teachers and practices, some strong, some therapeutic, some
focussing more on the physical and some on more meditative
aspects. There is something out there for everyone.
The use of the breath, however, is the most important aspect of a
practice and is a great start off point, because if nothing else we
can all breathe.
This is the message we are trying to spread through the Brighton
Yoga Festival: Yoga is for everyone, regardless of age, health
and background. Now in our third year, we have been organising
this free festival, which will be held at the Corn Exchange in
Brighton on the 23rd July. With plenty of classes and talks on
offer, plus stalls, treatments and things to do for the whole family,
there will be something for everyone to enjoy and to explore the
possibilities of yoga. It is FREE – we are doing it for the love of
yoga!!
If this has sparked your interest, why not try the following simple
practice. Starting with taking a short moment to check in with
how your body feels right now.
Is there any tension anywhere, can you notice any aches and
pains? Then bring your focus to your breathing…
Focussing on the breath
The breath can be a friend in many situations when we may need
a moment to relax or to focus the mind away from the internal
chitchat, at work, when travelling or even if we struggle to fall
asleep at night.