Many employers, of all sizes and industries, are taking a proactive approach to employee wellness by encouraging yoga in the workplace. Yoga has been known to reduce the number of sick days in the workplace, lower health care costs, and improve the overall health of people who practice this ancient healing art. Studies have shown that yoga can increase both mental and physical strength, improve focus and elevate mood. Employees who take regular breaks to do yoga stretches or postures often return to work refreshed and revived, more focused and poised to make better decisions. The deep breathing and relaxation employees experience in yoga can also help them manage and reduce stress and cope with challenges more effectively.
Need more convincing? Here are other key benefits for incorporating yoga during your workday. Yoga can:
*Allow the body to recover from repetitive tasks and increase flexibility
*Calm the mind and improve concentration and clear thinking
*Decrease stress during the workday and improve mood
*Improve productivity and decrease sick time/absences
*Reduce tension in the head, neck shoulders, forearms and wrists
More and more employers are now offering perks such as yoga and meditation sessions at the workplace for employee wellness and stress relief. But even if you don’t have a yoga class at your workplace, there are a variety of stretches you can do at your work station to reduce tension, decrease repetitive stress injury and improve your mood and energy level.
Hill Physicians has a great slideshow and podcast for simple stretches and exercises you can do at work, right in your chair. This is a great way to take mini-breaks throughout the day, which can prevent injuries from repetitive motion and relieve workday stress.
Visit: www.HillPhysicians.com/Podcasts to download the podcast and chair yoga slideshow for free or check out their entire Workplace Stress podcast series:
Managing Workplace Stress
Creating Calm in the Work Zone
Chair Yoga for the Workplace
For Workplace Yoga classes near you, inquire with a certified yoga instructor in your area. Find a registered yoga instructor through the National Yoga Alliance: http://yogaalliance.org/
My favorite local instructor for work place yoga is Diane Valentine at the Yoga and Movement Center in Walnut Creek. She was voted Best Yoga Teacher in 2010 in the Bay area’s Diablo Magazine.
You can read more about Diane from the Diablo Magazine article http://www.diablomag.com/health/Best-of-the-East-Bay-Health-Fitness/#yogateacher or visit http://www.yoga-movement.com/ to learn more about her Yoga and Movement Center in Walnut Creek, CA.
So get stretching in the office and discover the benefits!
Lori
