Style: November 01, 2019

22 STYLE | wellbeing
There are other ways of relieving
mental stress, which don’t involve as
much physical exertion but can be
equally effective – for example, yoga,
meditation, massage, flotation therapy,
ice bath and sauna hot and cold
therapy, all of which are being offered
at a new wellness space about to
open in The Welder on Welles Street
in Christchurch.
“For people experiencing emotional
difficulties, such as with relationships,
natural practices like yoga and
meditation can be very effective,”
says Sam Thomas, a co-founder of
O-Studio with professional rugby
player Tim Bateman and yoga teacher
Jess Smith.
“There has been a lot of research
on how these practices can help in
deeper ways,” Sam says.
“Practising sustained focus on
the breath for just 20 minutes in
meditation can help us be more
present with our children or at work.”
This task aims to increase
mindfulness, a concept that has
garnered a lot of attention of late.
However, as Sam points out, it is just
one of a range of meditative practices
used in research to boost other
important qualities like self-confidence
and resilience to help people better
deal with situations in their lives.
The effectiveness of yoga in
improving mental wellbeing and
enhancing self-esteem has been
shown through extensive research,
and it has been used in wellness
programmes around the world for
many years.
Sam describes yoga as being about
“moving your body to change
your mind”.
“Yoga teaches people to become
aware of what’s happening in their
body, leading to better reactions to
changes in mood that commonly
occur throughout the day.”
Flotation therapy, developed at
the US National Institute of Mental
Health in 1954, has experienced a
surge in popularity in recent years
as a stress relief tool. After trying
flotation therapy overseas, Tim and his
wife Laura set up Christchurch’s first
flotation therapy centre, Cloud 9 Float
Club, in 2015.
“Research indicates that flotation
is among the top 25 per cent
of relaxation tools known to
psychology,” Sam says, “and it is now
being used to combat burnout, stress
and anxiety disorders.
Mental health and
wellbeing can be
enhanced through
practising yoga
and meditation,
as such places as
O-Studio.
“Because sensory input is reduced
to a minimum, the body quickly
recognises that you are free of
environmental threats, which helps
you to fall into a deep state of
relaxation.”
Each flotation pod is about the size
of a small car and the water contains
a quantity of Epsom salts, making it
buoyant enough for the participant to
float, he says.
Stress, anxiety, burnout, low selfesteem
– these can affect us all at
different times in our life, but the tools
to overcome them are readily available.
In the words of Sam: “There are
many pathways to improving mental
wellbeing through physical activity, and
they can all build up reward pathways
– pathways to becoming the best you
can be.”
And the first step is starting that
journey – for your body and your mind.
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