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Corporate yoga reduces stress
Nobody likes being stressed out, but sometimes it seems inevitable
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Nobody likes being stressed out, but sometimes it seems inevitable. Stress may attack us now and then, especially if we live in a big city like Jakarta, where everybody seems to be in a constant rush.
The harder we work, the higher the stress level is. We all know that stress is not good and is obviously harmful to our health, physically and mentally.
For some, the easiest way to cope with the stress at the workplace is getting away from the job for a while, unwinding in a holiday resort, be it up the hill or down the beach.
Some others have a hot bath, watch a good movie or listen to their favorite music to beat their stress.
A minute for your health: Yoga teacher Ravi Vempati demonstrates easy and relaxing stretching exercise at the office. (JP/ J. Adiguna)
Or practice yoga.
If you have never practiced yoga, you might frown upon the idea and say: "Sorry, I am not into yoga."
You might have this mental image: people stretching their arms and their legs up and down, standing on one leg with two arms up and then opening to both sides while bowing the body, while the other leg lifts up, doing the shoulder or the headstand with both legs up, or other complicated movements, which resemble those demonstrated in circus shows.
Even if deep in your heart you are actually curious about yoga as the ancient physical and mental practice that originated in India more than 3,000 years ago, and which is now very trendy, and a yoga class is offered in a nearby gym, you might shake your head because you do not have time to do so.
Over the past few years, yoga has indeed become a relatively new lifestyle among many urbanites who seek a balance in their life. It attracts people from all walks of life and different religions, including Muslims.
Last year Malaysia's top Islamic body banned the practice of yoga among Muslims, saying it contained corrupting elements of Hinduism. Indonesia's Muslim Ulema Council aped the move, issuing an edict that prohibited Muslims from practicing certain elements of yoga.
Yet, many Muslims, like people of other faiths, keep on practicing yoga as they believe it may lead them toward health and happiness.
There are many different kinds of yoga. It is not completely wrong to picture people sitting on their yoga mat on a floor with folded legs in the lotus position, or standing upright and then stretching the arms to the front and then bending forward and touching the floor with the palms, and various other kinds of moves and positions, such as those that are taught in a gym's yoga class.
But you can actually do yoga at your office, right at your desk. And it only takes a few minutes to do so.
"You don't even have to stand. You can do it while sitting in front of your computer," said Ravi Vempati, a yoga teacher from the Jawaharlal Nehru Indian Cultural Center, Embassy of India in Jakarta.
The so-called corporate yoga is very easy to do.
For instance, the first movement. While sitting in your chair, extend both hands forward at the shoulder level and then make a fist with the hands with the thumb inside. Point out your index fingers as a guide for the wrist movements and slowly rotate the wrist in all possible directions.
"The arms and elbows should remain perfectly straight and still," said Ravi, while demonstrating the movement called manibadha chakra (wrist rotation).
Another hand movement is kehuni chakra or elbow rotation, In this movement, bend your right arm and elbow with the fingers toward the ceiling and place the left hand under the right elbow to support the right hand before rotating the right arm or elbow joint in all possible directions.
"Do not move the right wrist and right shoulder joint," Ravi said.
You may repeat the same with the left hand after finishing with the right one. Other things you can do include the shoulder rotation, neck rotation, neck pull and neck push. All are easy to do and are quite helpful to release the tension and encourage some relaxation.
The most interesting movement is the so-called lion pose. You can still do it while sitting in your chair with your knees apart. Place your palms on the chair between your knees with the fingers pointing towards the body. Lean forward, rest your body on your straightened arms, arch your back and tilt your head back.
And then here is the fun part: Open your eyes and gaze toward the center of the eyebrows, relax, inhale slowly and deeply through the nose, and then open the mouth and extend the tongue out as far as possible toward the chin.
"While slowly inhaling, produce a clear and steady *aaaah' sound from the throat," Ravi said.
If your colleagues are around, be prepared to become the center of attention. They might laugh at you because of your funny expression. But this pose is actually very good for men and women who want to look young and beautiful or handsome.
"This posture helps in reducing the wrinkles on the face and makes the face brighter and healthy," Ravi said. He stressed yoga is not only about physical exercise. It is about controlling the body, breath, sense and mind.
The simple, brief yoga practice will help you take control of yourself and accordingly avoid stress, while making you feel healthier and happier, on one condition: practice it regularly.
It is easy to practice basic yoga, practicing it regularly is another matter.
Ravi Vempati
At JNICC, Embassy of India,
J.l Imam Bonjol 32, Central Jakarta,
phone 021 3155120,
www.jnicc.org. He also writes Basic Yoga,
An Action in Relaxation.
