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 research 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 sitting 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 sitting 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 mean 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.”

Max Taylor, Consumer Director at Vodafone UK, commented: “EVO is all about giving customers the phone they want at the price they choose – giving them the most flexible mobile plans they’ve ever had, at what is a really difficult time for many people – and VodaYoga takes that one step further. People have been stuck at home, and home working is set to continue for a lot of us, so it’s vital that we stay fit and flexible. We’re injecting some flexibility back into the nation – to people’s wallets, bodies and minds.”

EVO customers can choose the contract length that suits them, from 12 – 36 months, they’ll have the flexibility to upgrade their device after 12 months, and trade-in an old device for a guaranteed instant saving. EVO also includes Vodafone’s Unlimited Data Booster, Battery Refresh for up to three years, and a two-year total care warranty.

Sharon Helsby, Senior Physiotherapist Lead at Nuffield Health commented: “Classes like VodaYoga are so important, not only for a healthy body but also for mental wellbeing. We know that sitting in a sustained position for a long period of time can lead to pain, this has been exacerbated over the pandemic. During the last six months over a third (35%) of people seeking physiotherapy treatment with us have had neck or upper back pain, which comes as no surprise given the trends the Vodafone research has revealed.

“By far, the best way to combat this is by making regular movement throughout the day. When people were working from an office they would regularly get up from their desk to chat to a colleague, go to a meeting or grab a coffee. The research highlights how these essential, daily movement habits have decreased. VodaYoga includes specific movements to combat stiffness and foster greater flexibility. The fluid routine will encourage people to move more during their everyday lives and aid relaxation.”

The VodaYoga class is available to access for free at www.vodafone.co.uk/mobile/vodafone-evo or via Nuffield Health 24/7 for Nuffield Health customers.

To keep up their flexibility, EVO customers will have exclusive free access to a 3-day pass at any Nuffield Health fitness and wellbeing centre as well as 3 months’ access to Nuffield health 24/7, which they can redeem via VeryMe on the My Vodafone app.