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How have you been connected to Sweaty Betty?
Howard’s relationship with Sweaty Betty is one that has developed and branched out over the years. Sweaty Betty began its existence as a multi-brand boutique that featured other athletic brands than its own. Howard, being the proprietor and designer of the popular Yoga brand Agoy became one of the featured brands within the boutiques. During the time of this collaboration he was able to develop a relationship with Simon and Tamara (Co-Founders of the Sweaty Betty), which would prove to be lasting.
As Sweaty Betty looked to increase its impact within the community they developed a weekly workout program that featured both running and yoga programs. With the growing success of the clubs Sweaty Betty looked to provide their consumers with the next level of service. They again turned to Yoga Expert Howard Napper to do so. This was his first time teaching within the boutiques, although he had taught the support office previously. Building on the success of the first evening with Howard both he and Sweaty Betty are excited to have him back at 125 Kings Road for another session in the near future.
What was the evening like?
The intimate evening began after the boutique closed on a Wednesday evening. The room was abuzz with the excitement of eager yoga enthusiasts. As Howard entered the boutique the yogis noticed an aura of calm that came over them. Howard instantly loved the evening on different levels. He loved that he was able to educate the class on different elements of Yoga. Whether it was mindset, stance or breathing he was able to provide the class with a well rounded experience that they had not encountered before.
What are your current views on stress?
Howard’s definition of stress is that it is anything we perceive to be a threat to our lifestyle or existence. This may not necessarily be a physical threat but a threat none the less. The stresses that occur within our daily life mean different things to different people and they all respond differently to the stresses that come their way.
There are three element of stress that Howard discusses. Firstly you have to identify the triggers of stress that occur in your daily life. May it be shortage of time, resources or experiences all in small amounts have the ability to cause us varying degrees of stress. It is only through the repetition of activities can we begin to develop a familiarity and comfort within the situations we put ourselves in daily. The stresses within our lives are subjective to the individual that is experiencing them. It is only the individual that can determine how much repetition is needed to create a comfort rather than a stress. When working with stress Howard believes that once you have identified the stresses in your life you have to then decide how you are going to deal with them. Avoiding stress altogether is simply unavoidable; you can however choose to go left instead of going right.
Finding coping mechanisms that work for you is the second element of stress that Howard believes in. With practicing breathing, an integral part of Yoga can help to balance the body when it encounters stress. The body also responds well to physical activity as it releases endorphins to increase the feeling of well being. Whether it is golf, swimming or going for a run all are sure ways to manage stress. Yoga is another key example of an activity that helps us to cope with our daily stresses. Isotonic exercises such as weight lifting and running are often seen as more popular for keeping the body distressed. It is however, important to include isometric exercises such as yoga into your routine as it aids in the pacification of the body and mind.
Changing your relationship with stress is the last element that Howard discussed. Stress is psychological so you have to develop a tolerance to the stresses in our lives. As they say in North America “don’t sweat the small stuff”, essentially acceptance is key to the de-stressing process. The progression of acceptance may take varying amounts of time for different people. It is important to remember to take small steps and conquer one small stress at a time which will eventually lead you to conquering your larger ones.
Would you be interested in doing another night like this?
yes!
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