Employee wellness is IN, and so is yoga sculpt!

Yoga sculpt, hot yoga, Pilates, barre, Lagree — fitness classes have been on the rise, and you’ve probably heard of at least one of these workouts through friends or social media. However, they’re not just for physical appearance. Getting your body in shape improves your overall wellness. I began yoga sculpt classes at the end of 2023 and can confirm that it is my favorite way to work out after sitting in the office. It increased my productivity and improved both my mental state and my cardiovascular health.

There are many ways that our employees prioritize their health and wellness, and with August being National Wellness Month, we asked Max Hannemann to share more about his yoga and wellness journey. Max is a labor relations manager at Hawaiian Electric and has been at the company for around 12 years. However, on the side, he also teaches yoga sculpt and is one of five owners, including his daughter Tiana, of Yoga Room Hawaii, a yoga studio in Kaimuki on Oahu.

“I don’t think our bodies are meant to sit still,” says Max. “The more we move our bodies, the better we are, not only physically but mentally and emotionally.”

Max originally learned about yoga sculpt, a blend of yoga, cardio, and weightlifting, through a co-worker, and fell in love with the fun, challenging form of exercise. In 2015, he completed his instructor certification and began teaching classes before coming together with his partners to open Yoga Room Hawaii in October 2020. The locally owned studio features seven different types of classes: Sculpt, two levels of vinyasa, which is a more traditional yoga flow, two levels of high heat hot yoga, a heated HIIT class, and Yin Restore, which focuses on stretching.

“Stretching, in it of itself, has so many benefits,” notes Max, as he explains that Yoga Room’s variety of classes can fit anyone’s fitness regime, no matter their age, size, shape, or experience level.

The Yoga Room Hawaii community ranges from high schoolers to retirees, and as a local studio, Max also emphasizes that it is important to them to embrace the surrounding Kaimuki community. The studio partners with neighboring small businesses like matcha spots, restaurants, and boutiques to support each other as one Kaimuki family.

“It’s really important to find the right community and the right support system that pushes you a little harder to show up — for you, to get your workout in, and to focus on your wellness this month,” says Max.

I often attend yoga sculpt classes and even had the opportunity to attend one taught by Max at Yoga Room! These classes showed me that it can be fun to work out, pushing me to become stronger while listening to the upbeat music. Finding friends who also love sculpt, as well as running, hiking, and other activities, has only made working out more enjoyable and keeps me motivated to stay active.

Yoga sculpt is just one of the ways that our employees choose to focus on their well-being. The practice has many benefits from enhancing flexibility, strength, posture, balance, and cardiovascular health, to reducing stress and improving mental clarity.

August serves as a reminder to prioritize your wellness! Even with busy work and school schedules, taking care of yourself through skincare, sleep, food, and exercise can make a significant impact on your life. Whether it is doing hot yoga, going for an afternoon walk, or even raising your standing desk, one of the ways you can put your wellness first is through getting your body moving.