Contrary to popular belief, spending company time on fitness actually boosts employee productivity at the office instead of hindering it. Studies show that employees who are physically active during the work day self-report increased work performance and higher satisfaction with both the quantity and quality of their work than employees who are not.
Help your employees prioritize their health and wellness and remove the barriers of accessibility and convenience by bringing the gym to them. With on-site fitness classes led by a certified instructor, your people will be able to fit an exercise break into their busy schedules and reap the many benefits of engaging in group fitness, such as stronger employee morale.
Here are some workout activities that are easy to implement as corporate fitness classes that will get your people pumped up about getting fit.
1. Yoga & Pilates
Yoga, with its focus on flexibility through physical postures and meditation through breathing exercises, and its counterpart, pilates, with its focus on bodily strength building, are the antidotes to a stressful work day. Yoga and pilates can benefit employees in reducing physical and mental tension, improving concentration, inducing calm and relaxation, and finding peace of mind, all of which helps your people feel revived in the mind, body, and spirit. Yoga and pilates-centric fitness facilities across Canada offer corporate programs, including Vancouver Corporate Yoga and Innergy Corporate Yoga.
2. Tai Chi
Tai Chi is considered both a form of the martial arts and a form of the healing arts. Through a series of gentle movements practiced in a quiet space, the ancient Chinese discipline serves to recharge and rejuvenate the flow of energy throughout the body, provide relief to physical and mental strains, and help the individual achieve greater self-awareness and inner harmony. Once learned, tai chi exercises can be done anywhere, assisting your employees with stilling the mind and easing their built-up aches and pains in order to help them get through and succeed throughout their days at work.
3. Kickboxing
Kickboxing is a hard-hitting sport combining elements of boxing, martial arts, and aerobics. The cardio-centric version of kickboxing does not involve full-contact between competitors — instead, the high-intensity workout entails a series of punches, kicks, and knee strikes. Kickboxing sessions develop strength, stamina, and confidence, and the movements learned can be used in self-defense, leaving your people feeling prepared and equipped to handle themselves in stressful situations.
4. Zumba
Zumba is a high-energy program that mixes aerobics with dance, making the activity a fun way for your people to get together, get in shape, and get into the rhythm of the Latin beats. With the upbeat and energetic atmosphere provided by a Zumba session, the workout feels more like a celebration and will facilitate opportunities for team-bonding as team members attempt to move and groove to the music.
5. Barre
Barre combines movements from yoga, pilates, ballet, and dance. Based on the traditional ballet barre along with floor-based exercises, barre’s all-encompassing workout strengthens the body, working on stretching, flexibility, and cardio. After a long day, barre exercises can help your people alleviate built-up stiffness and pain and straighten posture after sitting at their desks for hours. Barre studios such as Kara Wellness in Montreal will bring classes to the office, substituting the barre with office chairs.
