The people behind Alasco: Meet our Frontrunners! - Yoga @ Alasco with Romina

At Alasco we want to create a workspace where work-life balance is appreciated and mental health is fostered. With weekly yoga sessions, Romina, our HR Manager at Alasco and trained yoga teacher, brings our employees a moment of calmness and inner peace. Today she tells you why she started doing yoga (professionally), about the beauty of this practice and how it helped her through difficult times.?

How come you joined Alasco?

Romina: "My goal has always been to help the employees of a company and enable them to work better and more comfortably. In my previous job in business consulting I have noticed that many companies are not really interested in the well-being of their employees. For this reason, I was looking for a dynamic environment, where I could actively shape the existing structures and processes. A company that cares about its employees: Alasco was just the right fit for me because I knew immediately that I would have the energy, the freedom and the means to make real change here. That is also the reason why I started to implement yoga at Alasco."

Where does your fascination for yoga come from and how have you developed yourself in this field?

Romina: "I encountered yoga for the first time during my studies and realized on my own body what a sustainable effect yoga can have on the body. I was fascinated by this philosophy and dreamed of becoming a professional yoga teacher. When I quit my job in business consulting, I was stressed out and had little physical or psychological strength anymore. I took this situation as an opportunity to do an apprenticeship in yoga which I will never regret in my life. During those six months, I learned a lot more about the connection between body, mind, and heart and the tremendous impact yoga can have on mental and physical health. During my training and afterwards I gave a lot of lessons in companies or at universities but realized that I did not want to do it on a full-time basis. Gladly I already built myself a loyal community, which was particularly helpful when I had to move classes to the online format due to the pandemic. At this point, I teach 1 - 2 yoga classes a week and attend intensive yoga retreats where I get to teach a lot but also get a lot of input from other yogis. I am glad that I can still call yoga my passion."

What makes yoga so unique?

Romina: "Per definition, yoga means connection, which pretty much sums it up. Yoga is not just about the physical. Yoga is a connection between mind, body, and heart, whereby the basic idea is to be fully present here and now. The essential tool for this entire presence in the here and now is the breath. It drives the stream of thoughts and thus gives energy. Yoga offers a broad palette of different forms, from power yoga to meditating. What I love about yoga is mindfulness -? you learn how to rely on and listen to your body. It is not a competition but a gesture to your body, accepting the status quo and taking in the feedback your body gives you. A personal note on this: Many people expect from a yoga teacher outstanding flexibility. I am relatively inflexible, even though I am a professional yoga teacher. Many people would assume this to be a setback, but instead, it strengthened my passion for yoga. It was refreshing for my students who struggle with flexibility as well that it is not about "being good" at yoga but about realising what benefits your body."

What do you want to achieve with Yoga @ Alasco?

Romina: "I want our Alascians to take a break so that we can give our employees the freedom to exercise, relax, and focus during everyday life. Just half an hour helps you feel better throughout the day. Many people quickly fall into the “mood” of wanting everything and underestimate the stress and pressure they put on themselves. Due to that, it is important for me that our Alascians make sure to recharge their batteries regularly. Whether it is through yoga, meditation, sports, or a long walk."