Looking for ways to boost
attendees’ energy, release their tension and keep them
centered on events? Follow the lead of firms like Google, Viacom
and Bear Stearns and add a yoga session to the agenda. Worried that
the practice is a little too touchy-feely or spiritual for your
organization’s culture? Tevis Gale, founder of Balance Yoga (www.balanceintegration.com), a New York City-based
firm that conducts yoga programs specifically for corporate groups,
offers the following tips:
* When looking for a teacher, make sure
to interview candidates to assess whether they can bring modernity
and everyday relevance to the class. Participants can be alienated
by a teacher who is too esoteric or uses traditional Sanskrit terms
to describe the positions.
* Be sure the instructor understands
the mind-set of your population. He or she should be ready to
inspire and energize the class without relying on quotes from
swamis or religious texts.
* Check with the meeting
facility/property to confirm what documentation is required for a
yoga session to be held on site. The instructor should be prepared
to provide a certificate of insurance, as well as a standard
liability waiver for participants to sign before taking the
class.
* Work with the host facility to find
an appropriate space to hold the class. Clean floors, either wood
or carpeted, are best. A room with ample natural light and a
comfortable temperature of around 74 F is ideal.
* If a venue does not have an
appropriate space, consider taking a stretch-and-breathe moment
during coffee breaks.