Mental Health Awareness Week – Promoting good mental health at work

I feel super privileged to have helped the good folk & some awesome businesses of Belfast use a combination of exercise & yoga to thrive during Mental Health Awareness Week last week, and all year round.

There are definitely times when I give myself 100 reasons to not step on my mat and practice yoga or get to the gym citing lack of time, energy or I just can’t be bothered. BUT then I remember that I’ve been exercising almost daily for 20 years and I can honestly say that it has never once not made me feel good.

So while I understand the necessity to strive for weight loss goals or the constant struggle to get bigger, faster, stronger or hit that handstand, sometimes, just sometimes, it’s nice to do it all because it just feels good.

Not just physically, but also mentally.

And last week, as well as it being National Vegetarian Week, and the start of a new round of Kickstart Bootcamp & BroFlo Yoga for Guys, it was also Mental Health Awareness Week, and an opportunity to continue some of the work I do with the forward thinking companies of Belfast.

First up, Aware NI was running a super simple, super effective campaign encouraging us all to just Do One Thing. Having worked with them on Mental Health Day Slieve Donard hikes, their Mood Walk series, and Mental Health First Aid course in the past, I was so happy to support their campaign by throwing some shapes outside Belfast City Hall & making myself lunch :)

After an action packed Catalyst NI Life after-work event a few weeks ago - food, pub quizzes & table tennis among other activities! - I’ve been working with them to provide weekly KickstartFit & KickstartYoga classes on site at their newly refurbished Innovation Centre in Titanic Quarter. Keep it up Catalyst Crew!

IQ-EQ was super busy last week with two visits from me - one ‘yoga at your desk’ session, and three yoga taster sessions - as well as desk massage, mini golf open tournament & more - thanks for having me!

And last but not least, the mighty FinTrU. I’ve been working with them for a few years now and their passion for all things workplace wellness is awesome to see.

From two weekly yoga classes with me, to charity partnerships, gender diversity initiatives, mental health training, and support for new businesses here in NI.

No wonder they scooped both the ‘Business Growth’ and ‘Best Company to Work For’ awards for the second year in a row at the 2019 Belfast Business Awards. Congrats!

So - in the spirit of Aware‘s first ‘Do One Thing’ challenge - stop what you’re up to, and have a little move. Dance, walk, jump, hike, run, squat, stretch or the rest, and I guarantee it’ll just put a little va va voom in your day.

Namaste everyone! 👍😎🙏🏆