From Long Hours Sitting to Finding Balance Through Ashtanga Yoga
Meet Brian
Brian is a long time & devoted practitioner of Ashtanga Yoga and teaches Mysore here with us.
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For 14 years, I worked as a quantity surveyor, spending around 8 to 10 hours a day at a desk, followed by another 2 to 3 hours commuting daily. Looking back, most of my day was spent sitting.
At the time, I thought the stiffness and discomfort were just part of working life. Tight shoulders, neck tension, lower back pain, and stiff hips slowly became normal. After long days sitting in the office and in traffic, my body felt heavy, restricted, and constantly fatigued.
What I did not realise then was how much prolonged sitting was affecting my mobility, posture, breathing, and overall wellbeing.
When the body stays in a seated position for most of the day, certain muscles become weak while others become tight and overworked. Over time, these imbalances build up and start showing up as pain, stiffness, and reduced mobility.
Starting Ashtanga Yoga became a turning point for me.
Through consistent practice, I gradually regained mobility in my hips, improved my posture, reduced back and shoulder discomfort, and learned how to move more freely again. More importantly, I realised that the body can change when given proper movement, breath, and consistency.
That personal experience is why I deeply understand many office workers today. I know what it feels like to wake up stiff, sit for hours, commute home exhausted, and feel disconnected from your own body.
This is also why I teach Mysore-style Ashtanga classes.
Why Mysore Style Works Well for Office Workers
Many people think they need to be flexible before starting yoga, but the truth is most people begin because they feel stiff, tight, or in pain.
Mysore-style practice is especially suitable for office workers because it allows each student to progress at their own pace with individual guidance and adjustments based on their body and condition.
Unlike a fast-paced group class where everyone follows the same sequence together, Mysore classes give space for a more personal and sustainable practice.
“Many people think they need to be flexible before starting yoga, but the truth is most people begin because they feel stiff, tight, or in pain.”
Whether you are dealing with:
• Neck and shoulder tension
• Lower back discomfort
• Tight hips from prolonged sitting
• Poor posture
• General stiffness and fatigue
the practice can be adapted progressively to help restore strength, mobility, and balance safely over time.
A Practice That Supports Long-Term Wellbeing
The consistency, breath, awareness helps to build a healthier relationship with your body over time.
Having personally gone through years of desk work and physical discomfort myself, I teach with understanding and patience for people navigating similar challenges.
If you spend long hours sitting for work and feel the effects in your body, my evening Mysore classes are here to help you move better, breathe better, and gradually regain mobility through regular practice.
Your body adapts to how you live daily.
With the right practice, it can also learn to move and feel better again.
Brian Chan
Evening Mysore Room Yoga Teacher. You can find Brian teaching Monday thru Thursday every evening from 6 to 8pm.