There’s no doubt that yoga has increased in popularity over the years. With that increased growth has come creative ways to provide yoga services. Just on my schedule, I teach yoga in studios, non-profits, outdoors, offices, training facilities, schools and child care centers. Corporate yoga has also increased in popularity but there are many employers who balk at the chance to offer yoga in-house. They may be concerned it’s will involve poses that require lots of flexibility or chanting and incense burning.
Yoga provided in a corporate setting can be customized to fit the culture of the employer. Working individually with a yoga teacher can give employees a chance to learn in a small group and build a solid practice. There are many reasons it’s a no-brainer to offer in-house yoga; here are just a few.
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Yoga requires little to no equipment and can be done in a variety of places within an office setting.
Yoga provides employees with a way to release work related stress.
Yoga provided in-house gives employees a way to do something positive together.
Yoga gives employees a way to stretch hips that are tight from sitting all day.
Employers are able to offer something to contribute to the wellness of their employees.
The cost of in-house yoga classes can be creatively managed, through employer funding, employee funding or a combination of both.
The cost of in-house yoga classes is low compared to the positive impact employers will make on employee health.
Offering in-house yoga classes sends employees a message that their employer cares about their health and wellness.
Offering in-house yoga classes gives employees an easy way to fit exercise into their schedule as no travel from work is required to a gym or studio.
Yoga’s benefits around decreasing stress, improving focus, increasing flexibility and gaining strength are unparalleled.
Yoga provided in-house can be customized to the attendees’ focus (restorative, fundamentals focus, yoga for runners) as there is a distinct group of attendees every week.
The best way to get started is to find a local teacher based on recommendations from friends, family or employees that attend yoga at local studios. Have the teacher visit and provide a free class for employees. Gather feedback after the class from staff as to their impressions of the style, when they’d like to have class and how frequently. Decide if you as the employer will fully fund the classes or cost share with the employee. Decide if you’ll provide mats or ask the employees or teacher to provide.
Pick a location and set up 4 classes with the teacher as a start. Use these 4 classes as a way to try it and evaluate post-series what people think. Set up your next 4 classes and tweak the format as needed.
There’s nothing to lose and everything to gain. Do something positive for your employees now!