Page 12 | 31 May - 06 June 2017 CITYMATTERS.LONDON
CITYMATTERS.LONDON 31 May - 06 June 2017 | Page 13 Wellness <strong>Matters</strong> ‘UBER FOR YOGA’ APP CONNECTS STUDENTS WITH YOGIS The downward dog on demand FROM humble beginnings in a little-known start-up called Uber, to shelter puppies delivered to your door for a 15-minute petting session, the on-demand economy has expanded to make almost every aspect of life that bit more convenient. Experts agree that it’s all product of our fast-paced lifestyles, but that does not mean it should discriminate against services designed to slow things down. Yoga is the latest lifestyle arena to be dealt its very own on-demand button thanks to apps such as The Private Yogi, a new service that delivers private yoga instruction to homes, workplaces and hotel rooms across the Capital. Tuition Users can select from The Private Yogi’s network of fully qualified yoga instructors and have them sent to their door for bespoke, one-to-one yoga tuition to build form and technique and generate better results from practice, with prices starting at £49. The app is the brainchild of yogis Charlotte Morse and Paul Artiguas, who wanted to capitalise on the growing popularity of studio yoga by making private coaching more accessible. “In yoga’s tradition, it was primarily taught on a one-to-one basis,” Charlotte explains. “With popularity sees bigger yoga class rail woes: the longer the trip to work the higher risk of stress, studies say Long commutes trigger stress YOUR long commute to work could lead to stress or depression, according to new research. The study from private health firm Vitality found that lengthy travel times have a significant impact on mental wellbeing, with those commuting an hour or more 33% more likely to suffer from depression than those who travel for less than 30 minutes. Of the 34,000 respondents, long commuters were also 37% more likely to have financial concerns, and 12% more likely to report multiple dimensions of work-related stress. Researchers found that employees commuting less than half an hour to get to work gain an additional seven days’ worth of productive time each year compared to those with commutes of 60 minutes or more. They also made a strong case for flexible balancing act: helping to tune the wellbeing of the masses working, with employees able to work from home or with flexible hours less likely to be stressed or depressed, less likely to smoke, be obese, and more likely to get sufficient sleep. These employees also had an additional five productive days each year compared to those with no flexible working arrangements. Shaun Subel, director of strategy at Vitality Health, said: “These results demonstrate the significance of the daily work routine in influencing individuals’ health and productivity. “Allowing employees the flexibility to avoid the rush-hour commute where possible, or fit their routine around other commitments, can help reduce stress and promote healthier lifestyle choices and, importantly, this is shown to actually impact positively on productivity.” [sizes], which are wonderful. However, we were inspired to build a company based on tradition.” A former RAF military medic who swapped the battlefield for the yoga mat after a particularly tough final deployment, Charlotte began practising yoga alone as a way to create inner calm and balance. Friends and colleagues began peppering her for tips and sequences, planting the seeds of an idea, which she developed with partner Paul, a tech and marketing specialist and fellow yoga fan. Charlotte says the service eliminates the pain points of practicing yoga – overcrowded studios, inconvenient times, exorbitant prices – while making the advantages of private instruction more accessible to the masses. Recovering “The main benefit for practicing yoga alone is that you get the undivided attention of your teacher designed around your individual needs,” she explains. “A student will develop their personal practice must faster and their progress will be quicker. The Private Yogi serves all corners of the Capital, catering to everybody from athletes to pregnant women and those recovering from injury, at any level. “There are no subscriptions, users simply choose a service, select a teacher, date and time, and make payment, but those seeking more structure can opt for one of the fourweek programmes tailored specifically to the individual with nutritional advice and targeted outcomes. “The tailored experience is on the rise, self-care and mindfulness have become a priority,” Charlotte says. “As yoga’s unwavering popularity grows so does that need for a bespoke individual experience.” theprivateyogi.com Pimp your gym kit Top 3 gym essentials Wrap it up Tiny gym towels never quite seem to cut it when it comes to protecting our modesty in the changing rooms, which is how London PT Danielle Armstrong came up with a clever new cover-up. The Modesty Company’s Classic Towel Wrap (pictured) is a ‘towel-meets-bandeau-dress’ with a clever Velcro fastener to secure that sucker to your body while you get dressed and prevent your neighbours from copping an eyeful. £49.50 from themodestycompany.com Arm yourself Hit the treadmill with your phone secured to your arm, not bouncing around in your pocket. Belkin has a range of media armbands designed to provide a secure fit for your smartphone, even through strenuous workouts. Each has a non-slip, thin profile strap, breathable stretch material, and provides full access to the haptic sensor in your iPhone makes it easy to access features at any point. £19.95-£34.95 from belkin.com Hydration station Memobottle’s notepad-shaped water flask slides neatly into your bag, alongside your laptop and books – unlike that bulky cylinder you’re toting around. Memo bottles are BPA-free and come in A5 (750ml) and A6 (375ml) paper sizes. The company was also chosen to gift a bottle to each of this year’s Oscar nominees. What’s good enough for Ryan Gosling… £29 from memobottle.com <strong>City</strong> suits clocking up the miles for fitness challenge CITY workers have shunned the Tube and laced up their trainers throughout May, walking, cycling and running over 7,100 miles as part of a new health and fitness challenge in the Square Mile. The Business Healthy Challenge was launched by the <strong>City</strong> of London Corporation’s Business Healthy division in partnership with online wellbeing engagement platform HiMotiv to coincide with Living Streets’ National Walking Month. The 20-day campaign challenged <strong>City</strong> workers to increase their physical activity, rewarding teams with prizes when they reached fitness milestones. The Corporation, <strong>City</strong> Police, Capital Asset Management, RGL Forensics, and RBC Capital Markets were among the firms that took part, with participants racking up more than 10,406,555 steps throughout the duration of the challenge. More than 77% of people committed to at least 21 minutes of physical activity per day, with the majority walking, running or cycling for at least 10 consecutive minutes on an average of six days a week. Joyce Nash, chairman of the <strong>City</strong> of London Corporation’s health and wellbeing board, said: “Over 30million working days were lost through sickness over the last two years, costing the UK economy £14.1billion. “Our free Business Healthy Challenge gives <strong>City</strong> workers a chance to improve their health and wellbeing, which in turn creates a more dynamic and productive workforce.” Marcile Moulene of HiMotiv echoed the sentiment: “HiMotiv is pleased to have partnered with the Business Healthy team and Living Streets to help promote physical activity to <strong>City</strong> workers during National Walking Month. “It is great to see so many people taking part and doing more to get fit and healthy.” active city: workers have been inspired