BRITS SPENDING 93 DAYS A YEAR SITTING DOWN ACCORDING TO NEW RESEARCH

Vodafone has teamed up with Olympian and Double World Champion diver, Tom Daley, to get the nation feeling more flexible in body and mind this summer, with a specially crafted yoga routine to combat the effects of a year of home working. The new VodaYoga routine is inspired by Vodafone EVO, which offers customers a new level of flexibility, meaning that customers can get the phone they want at the price they choose, with amazing flexible benefits like contracts up to 36 months, a three year battery refresh and unlimited data boost.

VodaYoga has been specifically created to combat the impact of home working, which has seen people often having to work from the kitchen table, the sofa or the bed. Vodafone’s research1 revealed how much time the average person in the UK now spends sitting down, and the rise in people suffering aches and pains as we come out of lockdown.

Created in partnership with Nuffield Health, the UK’s leading healthcare charity, and one of the nation’s most flexible athletes, Tom Daley, the bespoke VodaYoga workout incorporates unique sequences aimed at targeting the nation’s biggest aches and pains, and is available for free on the Vodafone website or via Nuffield Health 24/7 for EVO and Nuffield Health customers.

The class – as demonstrated by Tom Daley and Zoe Simms, Wellbeing Personal Trainer and Yoga Instructor at Nuffield Health – includes posture-improving poses as well as breathing and mindfulness exercises to combat the physical ailments resulting from sitting in front of laptops and on sofas, so Brits can regain a flexible and balanced state of body and mind.

The VodaYoga routine builds on the Vodafone EVO customer promise, which offers them a new level of flexibility – with flexible contract lengths, the flexibility to trade in their old smartphone and flexible upgrades, all on the UK’s best network3. And this flexibility extends to the length of the VodaYoga class: the routine has been designed to suit people’s needs so, much like Vodafone EVO’s contract lengths (of up to 36 months), VodaYogi’s can choose whether they do the full 36-minute routine, or opt for a shorter workout at 12 or 24 minutes.

Vodafone’s research found that the average person spending six hours and 20 minutes a day sitting down. This means, Brits are spending 43 hours sat down during a typical week – the equivalent of 93 days a year.

Research suggests the pandemic has exacerbated the problem, four in ten admit that they have spent more of their free time sitting down than before the onset of COVID-19.

The average person is now spending four hours sat down during the working day, and a further three hours sitting down each day watching TV

Working from home has resulted in Brits going an hour and a half without getting up from their chair to stretch their legs, shoulders and back. Another third (33%) slouch in front of their desk or table, rather than sitting up straight and supporting their back.

Poor posture and time spent bound to sofas and desks means that more than one in five (22%) have been left with aches and pains, and, over a quarter (27%) say they are experiencing more discomfort than ever before.

Almost half (44%) of the nation want to increase their flexibility,, but despite a desire to improve flexibility and fitness, research indicates many feel stuck in a rut, with one in six of us feeling apprehensive about returning to gyms and exercise classes.

Tom Daley commented: “After being stuck at home through the pandemic and lockdowns, it’s no surprise Brits are feeling stiff, achy and more inflexible than ever. Like many people in the last year, yoga is something I’ve turned to, and I’m really pleased to be a part of this Vodafone campaign, sharing some of my favourite yoga poses and stretches to help everyone get more flexible.

“In preparation for the upcoming Olympics, we’ve done a lot of yoga to help loosen up our bodies and maintain peak flexibility and increase mobility. My favourite poses – which are included in the VodaYoga routine – are basic moves that address tightness in your hip flexors, glutes and hamstrings, such as forward fold and downward dog, which both allow gravity to do a lot of the work for you.”