Hello Roga!

Two fantastic things are happening in Leeds this summer.* One is the start of the Roga Revolution, the other the opening of the exciting new Hello Work co-working space in Leeds Dock. We were lucky enough to combine the two with an energising, packed-to-the-rafters Roga workshop recently.

Running is great, we all know that. Yoga is pretty fab, we get that too. Roga is more that just a combination of the two disciplines though; it’s much more than the sum of those parts. Roga is structured and educational but always also fun. All of the workshops are themed and you’ll never leave a session without knowing more about your body and how to use running to improve your yoga and yoga to improve your run.

Our workshop started at Hello Work’s stunning new home, a space it currently shares with Google Digital Garage (all very modern, these young companies – I wonder if they have their own shelves in the communal fridge). It’s all very gorgeous, light and airy. The perfect place, in fact, to gather a large group of people, take them out to get sweaty and bring them back for some perfectly-matched stretching.

We headed out for a short 2km run around the Leeds Dock area, just enough to get the heart rate up and the blood pumping. We then did drills, loads of them, many learned during my training to be a UK Athletics Coach in Running Fitness. Drills are great for loads of reasons but they’re particularly fab for mixed ability groups. Everyone can work their hardest at their own level, which fits perfectly with our philosophy of being the best you you can be. Drills – at this workshop focusing on balance – are also really good fun. How often do you get to hop, skip, jump, sidestep, do hopscotch and grapevine and race your mates as an adult? Not often enough, we say, though through Roga we’re determined to change that.

After forty minutes of (structured) knackering ourselves out and laughing, we headed back to the stunning glass-walled room upstairs at Hello Work for yoga with Holly from Yoga Hero, our good friend and partner in crime for our Roga adventures. She took us through dynamic flow sequences that kept our focus on balance and our energy levels up. The space is perfect for yoga – and other events too – with no clutter, lots of light and stunning views over the dock. After closing with a soothing savasana, our Rogis headed off home with a spring in their step as we thanked our lucky stars for the opportunity to provide fitness fun and Roga training in such a gorgeous venue.

Hello Work has two locations in Leeds Dock, one in Google Digital Garage, the other less than a stone’s throw away. Both are beautiful, modern co-working spaces with all mod cons, including free wi-fi, power and tea and coffee, plus access to bookable meeting rooms. If you’re interested in checking out co-working possibilities, contact Hello Work Hub Host, Clare Carney, for a chat. She has all the info you need on what’s on offer, plus she’ll no doubt give you a little tour if you ask nicely.

Massive thanks to photographer Tracey Welch for the ace photos. She takes photos of people you’ve actually heard of for a living so we were thrilled to have her clicking away for us on the day.

Love the sound of all this and fancy a piece of some Roga action yourself? join us for one of Roga Summer Series Workshops.
Full info and booking link here.

*OK, three amazing things – there’s sunshine too!