FAQs
Welcome to YoPO!
Find answers to general questions here.
But if you still need to reach out to us please email hello@yoponow.com
How do I decide what to do?
The poses, exercises and videos that we offer can collectively help to build strength, increase flexibility, calm the mind and reduce stress and fatigue.
Our content can be used in a range of different ways to best suit your circumstances, your physical and mental condition and the amount of time that you have available. You could start with:
- Our pose library can be filtered by focus and, if applicable, area of the body so that you can easily pick what you need – all can be done in a minute or less. Bookmark your favourites so you can come back to them
- Our practice library, includes sequences combining a number of poses and short videos provided by expert yoga teachers that can be used for guided practices
- Our courses provide structured content relating to different themes. These will work well if you want to explore practices to support your wellbeing around a theme that resonates with you.
What space do I need?
All of our content is designed to be usable in minimal space – at or near your desk, in the kitchen or in a workplace breakout area.
Do I need any special equipment?
Nothing special. In some cases you may use a chair back or desktop/tabletop as support, in others you may need blankets, pillows or cushions. See explanatory text and illustrations for guidance.
What do I need to wear?
Our content is designed so that you can come as you are, as long as you are wearing clothing that does not restrict your range of motion.
Much of the content can be done in shoes, particularly if your shoes have flexible soles but in some cases you may prefer to be in socks or bare feet. If bare feet are necessary this is noted in the explanatory text.
What are the health benefits of yoga and Pilates?
Yoga can provide many benefits to your physical and mental wellbeing depending on your needs. Here are some examples:
Physical health:
- Improves flexibility – stretching exercises help to reduce the risk of injury when running, playing sports or being active in daily life
- Improves general fitness – the more active exercises act as a mini workout, building heat and increasing the heart rate
- Improves posture – exercises focusing on the back and the core increase focus on body alignment and can improve habitual ways of standing and sitting
- Builds muscle strength – weight bearing poses help to build strength in a similar way to working with weight in the gym
- Improves balance – balancing exercises have multiple health benefits including strengthening the core and improving muscular reaction time, which reduce the risk of injury by falling
Mental health and wellbeing:
- Improves your mood – after practicing yoga many people report feeling happier, more optimistic, and more motivated
- Improves energy levels – practicing yoga can increase energy and give added zest for life
- Helps focus and concentration – practicing yoga keeps you in the moment and you may find that your focus and concentration improves after taking a yoga break
- Reduces stress – yoga encourages a slowing of breath and a calming of the mind
- Improves sleep – especially when practicing restorative poses
Can very short movement/mindfulness sessions really help?
Short movement and mindfulness sessions, even as little as one minute interspersed into a busy day can, with repeated practice, produce meaningful physical and mental benefits, increase your comfort in daily life and improve your physical condition for other activities. Any movement counts, especially if you have a sedentary lifestyle and the more that you can sprinkle through your day the better.
With some of the exercises you may be able to multitask, for example by taking a stretch while watching a video. We recommend however that most of the time you try to engage with the short practices with your full concentration, focusing on the breath and noticing all physical sensations and any shifts in mental state or mood.
Are short practices worth doing if I go to a regular yoga class?
We believe that developing a home (or at work) yoga practice is beneficial, even if you are a regular yoga class participant.
The short exercises and practices that we offer are designed to be sprinkled through the day, helping you to make your own yoga practice an intrinsic part of your life.
If you are an experienced yoga practitioner you may prefer other versions of some of the practices offered and you can of course substitute these into your YoPo practice framework as you wish.
