5 Ways Drunk Yoga® Makes Corporate Yoga Fun for Team-Building...(even virtually!)

Written by Eli Walker, Founder/CEO of Drunk Yoga

Equipped with a background in interactive performance art, I’ve always been drawn to the healing art of storytelling. Particularly in the context of community-based theater, where theater-makers immerse themselves into a foreign community and use experiential theater techniques to teach self-empowerment through empathy. When I created Drunk Yoga, I sought to use a similar format when curating team-building events for companies. 

Of course, many corporations who are curious about Drunk Yoga often ask us, “What makes Drunk Yoga any better than just drinking wine while doing yoga?” (Which, in fairness, is a GREAT question.) So here it is: 5 ways our Signature Drunk Yoga experiences turn yoga into a fun hour of camaraderie-building for corporations...even virtually!

1. Interactive Games
   Remember drinking games in college? Some were fun and some...we might prefer to forget. Drunk Yoga turns silly “drinking games” into uplifting, positive affirmations to help people “let their hair down” and release the pressure to be perfect by igniting a spark of joy through laughter and presence. How can we possibly make drinking games suitable for yoga? (...Another great question!) Here’s an example: If you mix up your left and right legs on the yoga mat (hey, we’ve all been there), you have to tell the class something you’re grateful for. If you opt for our customized Drunk Yoga experiences when booking your event, we’ll even curate these games just for you! Is it your boss’s birthday? Great! If you spill your drink on your yoga mat, you have to tell your boss “happy birthday” while standing on one leg. Is it your start-up’s 3-year anniversary? If you take a sip out of turn, you have to share your favorite memory from year #1 of the company, or make up a celebratory dance move for everyone to enjoy. Through games that ignite your imagination, we collectively embrace a sense of “play.” And, when we’re all laughing as a community, it’s pretty hard not to feel a sense of belonging that’s so important to our well-being.

2. Storytelling
   Storytelling is the quickest access point to empathy. As Nick Gray, founder of Museum Hack explains, “Stories are how we make sense of the world. You can use storytelling in a business setting to forge a connection with your colleagues, or to get buy-in.” In our Drunk Yoga team-building experiences, we lean heavily on icebreaker questions prompted by our instructors throughout the class. Towards the final “wine-down” portion of the event, the teacher invites participants to share their “best vacation story” or “worst experience during an elementary school picture day…” etc. We ask humorous yet thought-provoking questions that’ll not only help yoga-newbies take their minds off how hard the yoga pose at-hand is, but also fosters a deep connection between colleagues as they share their stories. ...Because, terrible picture days as a child? I think that’s something we can all relate to!

3. Easy Yoga Poses
   We strive to make yoga accessible for all levels, especially yoga newbies. As a [sober] yoga instructor, I’ve heard my friends and family say countless times, “I wish I could do yoga, I’m just not flexible.” Of course, it’s understandable why traditional yoga is intimidating. But I want our classes to feel welcoming for everyone, which is why our sequences are super simple. We aim to give our students a great stretch and a warm introduction on how to use yoga poses to help them develop a better relationship to their bodies in such a way that leaves them feeling totally blissed out after class, but not so difficult that they feel embarrassed if they feel they can’t “do it right.” Also? Beginner-friendly yoga means more energy for smiles and high-fives!

4. Familiar Music
   As a performance aficionado, I appreciate that music in any production (film or theater) plays a role as important as the lead character. This is why we curate our playlists to tug on your heartstrings with upbeat and familiar songs--like, the songs you can’t NOT sing and dance along to because it reminds you of your high school prom...for better or for worse. Think Spice Girls meets Hanson Brothers meets Mambo No. 5 meets Jay Z means Queen meets Lizzo meets Taylor Swift (only her hits, of course). Don’t worry, we leave ample time for dancing between poses;)

5. Choice of Beverage
   While our signature Drunk Yoga experience involves wine in-hand, our company has grown to offer a variety of sober and beverage-free options, such as Coffee Yoga or Spirit(s) Yoga, or even “Connect n’ Stretch” for your company’s virtual lunch break. In short, Drunk Yoga isn’t necessarily about yoga or wine--it’s about infusing an empowering, uplifting movement practice with the social ritual of sharing a drink (even water!) in community as a cool technique to cultivate joy through togetherness. 

Happiness is health, and I believe the only sustainable way to cultivate lasting joy is by fostering our relationships--with ourselves through yoga and meditation, sure, but more importantly, through mindful interaction with others. Care to let us lift your company’s spirit(s)? Schedule a call with our events team to learn how. In the meantime, #namasteresponsibly. 

Cheers! 

-Eli