Inspire Yoga

Sleep is a fundamental to good health – but are we getting enough? In Hong Kong it is cited that 80% of the population are sleep deprived. Sleep deprivation is classified as getting 6 or less hours of sleep per night, we wait to aim for an optimal 8 hours of sleep every night. The seminar exposes the health risks involved in running a constant sleep deprivation. If you are suffering from any of the below symptoms it is important to address your sleep hygiene: -Low energy – Poor mood -Sluggish digestion -Erratic appetite -Sudden weight gain While we are asleep major repair works take place in the brain, cardio vascular system and immune cells. Waking up refreshed is important for your health as well as setting the tone of each day. The workshop provides practical tips around improving quality of sleep and what to do if you suffer from insomnia. Experiencing breathing techniques, meditation and basic yoga poses to help induce sleep if you suffer from restlessness and sp...

Having come from a background of investment banking I saw my yoga practice as a time to dissolve tension from my body and release stress from my mind. I used to be a derivatives trader and coping with the time pressure of the job left me feeling very stiff and exhausted. It was then when I realized it was because my mind and body were so disconnected, my mind racing all day and my body completely sedentary at my desk. Yoga helped me to realign the connection by bringing mental stillness and physical agility. It made a tremendous impact on my energy levels and made me feel much more alert at work. I realized by address my body through stretching, strengthening and balancing poses I needed to focus on the subtle rhythm of the breath which in turn freed me from the mental inner chatter that kept me feeling so tight. In the ‘work hard, play hard’ environment of Hong Kong I wanted to be able to share this gift of inner calm and proper alignment with my colleagues who were burnt out and ...

There has been a growing trend in Hong Kong’s  wellness industry  towards corporate wellness, is catching o because it is now what is popular or are there actual bottom line results to investing in employee wellbeing? The short answer is yes, investing in employee health and satisfaction has proved with many multinational companies that are making a positive impact on the profitability of the firm. Tech was first to adopt  wellness practices in the workplace , financial institutions and law firms are quickly following suit as they are threatened by high burn out rate due to sustained high-stress levels in the office. Here is the 3 main benefits corporate wellness programs advocate: Increased job satisfaction Learning practical tools in how to release stress, align posture and undo the occupational tension from being in front of the desk all day not only allows employees to feel better in their body, they also feel better in themselves and feel better about being...

This took a lot of introspection before I could admit to this. Looking back when I was working in finance in Hong KongI would get a real rush from a volatile day in the markets as a derivatives trader. It was the rush of all that movement, a flurry of emotion, the unpredictability of the day, the irrationality of the price reactions, it made me feel alive. So much so that I began to seek it, looking for high-risk activities, volatile relationships, in total belief that faster is better, more is better, louder is better. I normalized a high-stress environment in my work and personal life and this constant mental chatter just couldn’t get enough. But what happens when you don’t switch off? I lost my ability to switch off, it started to show in my health, chronic stress meant that my  sleep quality  suffered, I was experiencing acute lower  back pain  in my mid 20s, my digestion was impaired, and I could see my body breaking down as a result of the mental agitation ...

Yoga Postures to release Tight Hips - From an anatomical perspective, the hips are the site of coordination between movement in the back and legs. Our bodies are made to move, when we are waking we are biologically designed to have our muscles active, either by running, walking, standing or squatting. Or all these movements require fluid hip joints. However, what happens when we spend most of your lives slouched in a chair, either at our desks, in front of the TV, in the car or at a meal? The last 50 years have dramatically changed our lifestyle, due to automation very little physical labour is required causing a predominantly sedentary lifestyle. This is certainly less energy consuming and more comfortable in the short term but the inactivity is causing our muscles to waste away resulting in long term health ramification for the entire population. The first sign that you are sitting for too long is that you will feel a tightness in around your hips, this is due to a co...

Corporate & Workplace Yoga Benefits Would you like to feel more relaxed in the office? Is sitting at your desk all day making you feel tight and tense? Inspire Yoga is a pioneer provider in  Corporate Yoga programs in Hong Kong . Typically we offer an expert yoga teacher to host weekly classes held in the convenience of your workplace shared among colleagues or exclusive yoga training clinics for executives. The practice is open for all levels and aimed to relieve occupational tension and release stress. Yoga postures focus on freeing the neck, shoulders, back, and hips from stiffness and gentle mobilizations to improve circulation. Mindful meditations and breathing techniques help to restore balance, bring clarity of mind and elevate energy levels. Each practice concludes with a guided relaxation to feel refreshed and energized for renewed motivation throughout your team. Gain From Corporate Yoga & Mindfulness Practices ✓ Increase in job satisfaction ...

We have all heard that its good to meditate , but do you know why? If you are convinced by the scientific facts behind meditation chances are you are more likely to dedicate consistent time towards the practice. Let’s start with a reflection, are you truly happy? Would your life to be more joyful and peaceful? In the modern day, we are plagued with the notion that more is better. That if we emulate a certain lifestyle, acquire certain possessions, embody a certain fashion it will lead us to happiness. Living in a fast-paced city of Hong Kong, with a sensory overload of stimulus and advertisements we are bombarded with a value that we need ‘x’ to feel better. That somehow right now, as we are, we are not enough. This sense of unworthiness is deep-rooted in our society, take a look at the rising rates of anxiety and suicide amidst the climb in the standard of living, the amenities, the healthcare, the education, the availability of food and water. With more the basic needs provide...

Before we can solve the problem, first we have to understand what stress is and why we urgently need to learn about its role in our society. The Oxford dictionary definition of stress is: a state of mental or emotional strain or tension resulting from adverse or demanding circumstances. Dating back to our caveman ancestors, stress was a survival mechanism to physically respond to danger. When stressed, the body thinks it’s under attack and adopts a ‘fight or flight’ mode releasing a complex mix of hormones and chemicals into the bloodstream such as cortisol and adrenaline. The rush of energy from increased levels of cortisol causes an agitated or aggressive response when stressed. Adrenaline primes the body for action, blood flow is redirected to the muscles in preparation to run away from danger, but now that the threat is more the thought of a deadline rather than an approaching tiger the lack of physical activity sustains the stress levels over time and causes muscle stiffnes...