Yoga is the latest perk catching on with corporate America. But some workers call it a stretch for the office.
“People say they don’t feel comfortable changing into workout clothes, or they don’t want to look bad in front of people who report to them,” said Jen Kluczkowski, co-founder of six-month-old Yoga Means Business, which counts Gilt Group, L’Oréal and Lululemon among its clients.
To entice the holdouts, and more customers, she and partner Chiyoko Osborne have developed the 30-Minute Method, a yoga practice that can be done in office attire—participants don’t even need a mat.
Employees use desks and chairs as props to open the body, said Ms. Kluczkowski, a Jivamukti-certified instructor who was a sales executive at Pandora. “Even busy people can find 30 minutes to release tension and tightness,” she added.
It cost the partners about $25,000 to launch the company. Not having a traditional studio keeps overhead low. Programs start at $250, and Ms. Kluczkowski suggests at least a four-class commitment. “Yoga is a practice. To get the real benefits—improved focus, clarity and creativity—requires doing it over and over,” she said.
Client Nedim Aruz, co-founder of media agency Good Apple Digital, said, “We wanted an activity that was more mind- and body-focused—not just going to the bar and drinking.”