NE Derbyshire District Council is introducing the classes along with craft workshops after figures revealed the authority lost 4,562 days – an average of 9.75 days per employee – to stress and sickness in 2007/08, at a cost of £292,571.45.

Activities will be made available for all employees as part of 'Body and Soul' week, which starts on Monday and also includes free health checks, nutritional advice and stress awareness sessions.

The five-day event has been organised to launch the council's 'Employee Health and Wellbeing Strategy', which has an annual budget of £10,000 and a long-term aim of creating a 'Body and Soul Centre' featuring gym equipment, showering facilities, and bistro area.

A spokesman for NE Derbyshire District Council said: "The council takes its duty as an employer very seriously, and both encouraging and supporting employees to look after their physical and mental health is an important part of this.

"It is a widely accepted fact that a happy and healthy workforce will ultimately benefit the council both financially in terms of the number of working days lost through sickness absence, and also through having a more productive workforce."

The top two reasons for employee absence were musculo-skeletal problems and mental health issues such as stress and depression.

The £10,000 'health and wellbeing' budget will fund 'Body and Soul' week activities, which will take place across the council's centres and must be completed in employees' own time.

The cash will also support an ongoing health check programme throughout the year, along with other training and activities.