You’ll never regret stepping onto your yoga mat!

Executive assistant and yoga instructor Torild Stokes on how yoga can support us during the pandemic.

Originally from Norway, Torild Stokes is an executive assistant with Stena UK Ltd in London. Before the pandemic, her days were spent organizing meetings and events for overseas and UK-based visitors and ensuring the smooth running of the office. During the lockdown, she has been carrying out her tasks from home.

In 2018, Torild completed her yoga teacher training and, since then, has taught yoga part time, during evenings and weekends. Her practice is based on Vinyasa Flow style Yoga, a style of yoga that seeks to co-ordinate the movement of the body with the breath.

“It is a breath-led, mindful practice that helps us reconnect body and mind, through syncing movement and breath. One of the main benefits is calming the nervous system – which a lot of people might feel is ‘out of sync’ during the pandemic. Yoga is excellent for managing stress and anxieties,” she explains.

There is plenty of evidence surrounding the benefits of exercise, both curative and preventive, impacting both our physical and mental health.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) say that, “Regular physical activity is one of the most important things you can do for your health,” – a statement that has never rung truer.

“Moving and spending time outside in nature to release those feel-good hormones and boost our energy and immune systems is always important, but even more so now that we’re living through a pandemic,” continues Torild, adding: “I’m happy to work for a company like Stena that invests in the wellbeing of its employees.”

Since January, Torild has been leading a weekly online yoga class for her colleagues in Business Administration team in Gothenburg. The response has been overwhelmingly positive.

“Practicing yoga offers great benefits to people of any age. It builds bone density, strength and flexibility,” says Torild, whose classes can be adapted with modifications both for beginners and options for more advanced yogis.

“One thing’s for sure, you’ll never regret even ten minutes of your time spent practicing yoga,” she adds.

NAMETorild Stokes
COMPANYStena UK Ltd
NUMBER OF YEARS AT STENA7
FAMILYThree sons: George (12), Freddie (15) and Christopher (19)
INTERESTSYoga, running, tennis, film, literature and cooking

“All Stena employees can attend Torild’s yoga classes via Microsoft Teams. There is a maximum number of 20 attendees per class, so please book your spot in order to secure your place. A Teams link will automatically be added to your calendar,” says Sara Billing, wellness coordinator, Stena AB.

THANKS FOR READING THIS ARTICLE.
QUESTIONS OR SUGGESTIONS? GET IN TOUCH

Wellness


Stena AB // December 14, 2023

WELLNESS - HLR

In 2011, what shouldn't happen happened: a colleague went into cardiac arrest. Then and there, Paulina Runnestad from the HSEQ & Security Department at Stena Line Scandinavia, decided to invest in CPR training for all Stena employees ashore.

Read More
Wellness // October 18, 2023

WELLNESS - ULTRA RUNNING

A couple of years ago we told you about Fredrik Larsson and Daniel Theander, both ultra-running enthusiasts. David Muir has now joined them and they recently faced perhaps their biggest challenge ever – 13 Valleys Ultra – the race goes around the UK's entire Lake District National Park.

Read More
Wellness // June 12, 2023

WELLNESS - GÖTEBORGSVARVET 2023

On a sunny day in Gothenburg, 95 employees from Stena AB and Stena Metall attended the half marathon Göteborgsvarvet - a joint investment in wellness that started in 2009. It became a fantastic day with a great atmosphere.

Read More
Wellness // December 18, 2022

WELLNESS - INLINE SKATES

Just name the sport that Helena Nyman has not tried. As she says: “I've got college credits in hockey stops and tango.” Helena was a physical education teacher who went back to school to get a degree in civil engineering and now works as a commercial project manager at Stena Fastigheter in Malmö. Two years ago, she accompanied a friend to an inline skating practice. She got the bug, and this summer participated in the Berlin Marathon.

Read More
Stena Metall // October 12, 2022

WELLNESS

After trying disc golf for the first time, Andreas Careland was hooked. The combination of the playfulness throwing a frisbee, the competitive element, being out in nature, and getting exercise is the reason why he fell in love with the sport.

Read More

See all posts related to Wellness