Work related stress is one of the most commonly reported types of stress. Our health and well-being can be significantly impacted by long hours, sedentary habits, poor body posture, and everyday job demands. According to Heads Up, one in five Australian employees report that they have taken time off work due to feeling stressed, depressed, burnt out, or mentally unhealthy in the past 12 months. The Australian economy loses over $12 billion a year due to lower productivity and absenteeism due to stress and mental health issues.
Yoga is recognised as an excellent stress reliever, as it incorporates common stress-reduction practices, such as exercise and learning to control one’s breath, cleanse one’s thoughts, and relax one’s body. According to the Journal of Clinical Medicine, yoga helps in the reduction of psycho-emotional problems and improves physical health and general well-being. It’s no surprise that many organisations are introducing yoga to the workplace to deal with employee stress and burnout. Daily yoga and meditation practice can result in positive improvements in attitude, work efficiency, and stress management over time. On this International Yoga Day, why not encourage your employees to take a break and practise yoga no matter where they’re working from, as it’s so much more than just physical exercise.
Here are some benefits of incorporating yoga into the workplace that can help your employees feel more productive and motivated.
Improves focus and concentration
Practising yoga positions or asanas have been shown to help relieve the mental clutter of looming deadlines, presentations, meetings, and heavy workloads. Yoga helps improve brain circulation, which can improve your employee’s ability to do activities efficiently and effectively as they become more alert, productive, and concentrated. Employees can relax comfortably on their chairs and take a few minutes out of their daily grind to perform yoga poses like shoulder rolls, neck stretches, and chair twists as each position take less than two minutes to complete and they’ll feel much more relaxed.
Boosts energy
A busy and hectic day at work can quickly drain energy and create stress which causes fatigue and lowers overall energy. Yoga can help to balance energy levels and promote calm as it increases blood flow, which helps to battle restlessness and exhaustion caused by extended sitting or standing. Chair yoga is an ideal way to re-energise both mind and body to combat the mid-day slump. It takes just 5 to 7 minutes, to perform a handful of poses like spinal cord breathing, spinal twist, or seated triangle that can stimulate circulation, enhance metabolism, stretch muscles, deepen breathing, and provide an abundance of energy to work for longer.
Alleviates common pain
We are all guilty of leaning on our desks, or sitting with our legs pretzeled under us from time to time, straining our necks while staring at the computer screen. This can cause back pain, neck strain, and shoulder stiffness, which can disrupt employees’ productivity and focus due to discomfort. Simple yoga exercises can help relieve such pain through fluid movements and stretches, which can help reduce any tension caused by stress.
Improves physical and mental health
According to the National Institute of Health, yoga can help with stress management, mental health, mindfulness, healthy eating, and quality sleep. Any physical problems, from little aches to more serious pains, can have an impact on employees’ performance and productivity. Yoga can help to ease these symptoms allowing the team to get on with the job at hand, meaning improved outcomes for everyone. Simple yoga and breathing techniques can also help liberate the mind from “clutter” that affects physical well-being.
Strengthens immunity
According to the Journal of Behavioural Medicine, yoga can help improve the immune system and reduce inflammation in the body. Yoga increases blood flow and stimulates the lymphatic system by encouraging the removal of impurities from the body. Yoga also promotes bone health through weight-bearing movements that lead to fewer sick days and improved employee performance.
Prioritising your employees’ health and well-being by giving them access to workplace yoga can help them to de-stress and prevent burnout. Incorporating yoga into their wellness programme is an excellent method to promote employees’ mental health and avoid the devastating repercussions of burnout.
