Semcon StoriesProduct Development
People first through Office Yoga
Project Leader and UX Specialist Tina Koohnavard is the initiator of Office Yoga at Semcon’s head office in Gothenburg. She did not always believe in yoga, but now wants to inspire her colleagues and share the experience of practicing self-acceptance.
You must have been practicing yoga a lot?”, they asked.
“Not really”, I answered.
“Oh okay, so… why Office Yoga?”
A few years back, the gym I used to go to unexpectedly changed into a yoga gym and all members were indirectly pushed towards new routines. The gym removed my favourite workout classes and replaced them with all kinds of strange names such as vinyasa, hatha, hiyoga. I was not interested in yoga at all, neither was I prepared to pay extra money for some spiritual nonsense. Therefore, the gym staff gave me free access to yoga for the rest of the year as compensation.
Slow and boring
I used to think that yoga is slow, boring and will never help me reach my fitness goals. I have always had goals like run faster, lift heavier, spin quicker, just do more! However, when I participated in my first yoga class, I was quite surprised at the intention to practice with kindness towards the body if its feeling tired, or to practice focusing the mind into stillness. I simply did not prioritize myself that way, and it was not until I visited Costa Rica last year that I fully embraced the benefits it actually had on my physical, mental and emotional health.
A moment of self-acceptance
Every day in Costa Rica, I surfed at dawn and dusk with a yoga class in between. Paddling, duck diving and popping up on a surfboard can be demanding and tiring. Being held down for a few sets of waves, feeling helpless, trapped and not knowing which way is up, is the ocean’s way of reminding us that we are but mere mortals. To balance up, the yoga instructor boosted my mental confidence and helped restore my mind. Suddenly, I felt tears running down my cheeks – it was one of my tangible moments of self-acceptance.
Office Yoga in Gothenburg
Office Yoga is an opportunity to take a break from everyday routines and immerse yourself in the relaxing and healing form – strengthened both physically and mentally. We currently have Office Yoga on a regular monthly basis at the Gothenburg office, with a plan to expand the concept to meet demand. The yoga sessions are led by different instructors from the Office Yoga Family, which is a team that has knowledge in physical and mental training, with the ability to teach.
So why am I doing this, or rather, why are we doing this? Office Yoga is about people who put people first. If we do not take care of ourselves proactively in the first place, we simply cannot share our energy with the world.
If you are like I was and do not think yoga is for you, let me ask you this:
Do you suffer from any of the following?
Stress, anxiety, chronic disease like heart disease or high blood pressure, chronic pain, depression or insomnia.
Or would like to improve your:
Posture, athletic performance, flexibility, balance, strength and conditioning.
If you answered yes to any of these then yoga is definitely for you.
About Tina
Title: Project Leader & UX Specialist
Education: Msc. Industrial Design Engineering
Worked at Semcon since: January 15, 2019
I have most fun at work when I…: See my ideas grow
