Desk Based Yoga with Jade Allan

Desk Based Yoga

Led by Jade Allan, this desk based yoga event will focus predominantly on being super accessible (no sanskrit names, no chanting, no high impact/sweating) and giving people a mental break from the pressure and busyness of a typical work day.

We emphasise ‘mindful movement’ and tuning into your own body on a particular day over trying to ‘achieve’ any particular pose. One of the benefits of a virtual class is actually having the choice to turn off video for the session. This allows for a genuine ‘retreat’ from the day-to-day and a chance to just see how you’re feeling internally.

Physically, we target the areas that tend to get tense and overworked and the areas that tend to get underused when we’re working at a desk (think shoulders, neck, hips, glutes, core…).

Mentally, we focus on tuning in to our breathing, state of mind and making use of the support that we have (on the surface level that will be the chair/floor/mat but over time we might recognise a wider meaning to this).

The chair session will require nothing except your usual desk chair (although if possible, we recommend not using one with wheels). We’ll offer movements and sequences that can be done any time through the day, even during meetings!

More About Jade Allan

In 20 years as an employee, manager and director in start-up, mid-size and multi-national organisations, I experienced a huge variety of working cultures. Since I always had sales targets and clearly defined goals it was easy to see the connection between how I felt at work and my performance. So when I experienced burnout, I could clearly see the impact on my work and on the people I managed.

My experience led me to explore how current ways of measuring business success might be contributing negatively to our experience of work. I wanted to find better ways of managing my own resources to be a more resilient manager, while still driving growth. I already knew that when I felt valued, had a great relationship with my boss and closest colleagues and connected with the purpose of the company, I loved my work and did it well.

First I trained as a yoga teacher, specialising in workplace yoga and stress management. Then I studied Positive Psychology, the science behind human flourishing. I looked in depth at the impact of posture on wellbeing, particularly on how we feel and manage stress. Studying the relaxation response gave scientific evidence to back up what I’d already learned by moving past burnout myself.