Join the 10-day ‘Move into Balance challenge’ –
increase your focus, energy and sense of well-being during your working day
I believe this is possible and I want to prove it – I need your help to do that!
Hi, I am Gillian Hipp – PhD researcher, Dance Movement Therapist and Somatic Coach and I am investigating the impact movement has on well-being in the sedentary workplace.
I have spent many hours observing and analysing the movement patterns of people, like you, sitting (or standing) at their computer workstations. While we know how this affects the body (aches, backpain in epidemic proportions), my question is: How does this affect the mind?
There is a growing body of research that indicates connections between how our bodies move and how we feel. You’ve probably read reports that exercise alleviates anxiety and depression, but I think there is far more potential to explore between how our bodies can affect our minds.
I believe that including movement – creative, meditative motion – in our workday can help us expand our physical range of motion and our mental range of creativity, imagination, problem solving, and mood.
By expanding how we allow ourselves to move, can we expand how we allow ourselves to think and feel?
Can we at least feel more joyful in our work days?
I have spent the past 4 years preparing for this study by observing how desk-workers move, or rather don’t move, in a typical working day.
What I found across the board was that when we sit, or even stand, while working at a computer:
- We don’t move….our body goes into a static mode from below the chest.
- Our eyes lead any movements that then follow in our arms, hands, fingers.
- Our core is disengaged and our upper body is concaved.
- Our shoulders round forward and our back tenses up.
- Sometimes our legs don’t move at all. In fact, we forget about anything below our chest….until it starts to ache.
- Our kinesphere (the space we use around us) is reduced.
If how we move = how we feel and think, what do extended periods of time in physical stasis do to our thoughts?
Our bodies are made to move and be expressive!
Our bodies and minds are meant to work together – as a unit – to be in a state of flow.
That’s why I’m here, doing this work. But you’re probably here because:
- You want to know how you can get through long stretches of time in your sedentary work day without pain.
- You want to feel healthy and add some physical activity into your overstuffed work day.
- You want to release tension, anxiety and stress in a way that doesn’t take you away from your desk for more than 20 minutes – your day is packed!
- You want to discover how you can be more focused and efficient during your work day
- You want to know how to calm or switch off your busy mind quickly
- You want to be mindful of what your body needs
Maybe you’ve tried making all sorts of changes to your workstation to make it more comfortable, so that you can sit for longer stretches of time. Different chairs, round inflatable balls, ergonomic keyboards.
Maybe you set yourself timers to take breaks, stand up, get yourself a drink and maybe even stretch.
You might even have tried meditation.
But….
- Even the most comfortable chair isn’t going to be your answer – the pain or tension may just be delayed.
- The break timer is easily ignored to just do one more thing on the to-do-list.
- Meditating isn’t for everyone – it is yet more sitting still and the breathing thing can be quite scary or overwhelming…not really a way to relax and let go of tension.
And none of these ‘quick fixes’ will get you to really, really enjoy your work either!
In response to research findings I have developed a 10-day Move into Balance challenge that I believe will improve your well-being. But I want to prove it, so that we can help more people feel happier – that is where you come in.
The 10 day Move into Balance Challenge is for you, if:
- You often spend more than 6 hours of your working day at a computer
- You are eager to find a way to improve your well-being
- You can carve out 15-20 minutes throughout your day
- You can commit to completing quick research questionnaires throughout the 10-day challenge
- You can agree to the Research Agreement (this will be sent to you before you fully sign up to the challenge)
- Keen to try something different
- Work from home or have an office where you feel safe to be you
The Challenge is not for you, if
- You are not interested in committing to the 10 day challenge
- You are unable to put aside 15-20 minutes a day to engage with the challenge
- Are unable to move freely in your workplace
- You are looking for a dance technique
- You want to be told exactly how to move and what to do
- You don’t enjoy moving to music
Participation in the Challenge is totally voluntary and free of charge.
Expressing your interest right now, does not mean that you are required to participate in the Challenge.
The Challenge is set to run later in the year, by expressing your interest I will be in touch with further details about the Challenge over the coming months.
You will not receive any information regarding my other ‘Move into Balance’ services when signing up below, if you are interested in those, please join my Move into Balance newsletter here.