Wayfair’s Mental Health Awareness Week

Each May, Wayfair hosts “Mental Health Awareness Week,” with daily programming to introduce and support employees through a variety of modalities and offerings. In addition to free acupuncture sessions (a perk offered year-round to Wayfair employees), executive fireside chats on managing burnout, and movement and meditation classes in their in-office fitness studio.

I was honored to have been asked to share a yoga practice in support of this programming. Attendees ranged from seasoned yoginis to first-timers, so practice focused on offering maximum modifications and customizations to enable everyone’s abilities. The theme of the class, inspired by a large-format print located on the 5th floor of Wayfair’s office, was “eating the elephant one bite at a time,” aka techniques to mitigate overwhelm and create internal calm.

My goal was to introduce students to techniques and postures that support them in their day-to-day corporate lives: for example, 360 degree spinal rotations (particular focus on postures that reduce ‘tech neck,’) and a walkthrough of ‘box breathing,’ known in the yogic tradition as Sama Vritti Pranayama (literally, “equal fluctuation breathing”). Due to its proven ability to calm the nervous system, this technique can be adopted in corporate settings such as giving presentations or in response to high-pressure deadlines or challenging conversations.

It was such an honor to lead teammates (and even an executive leader!) in this practice. Afterward, our leader, an experienced yoga student, demonstrated her strong and steady headstand.