Importance of Yoga at Workplace

Yoga cultivates the ways of maintaining a balanced attitude in day-to-day life and endows skill in the performance of one's action.- B.K.S. Iyengar, Indian Yoga Instructor Tranquility and peace aren’t always two words you would associate with a corporate office life – but that’s about to change. 21st June 2022 is International Yoga Day, where people around the world celebrate the impact yoga has had on their lives post a world pandemic. The message of Yoga in promoting both the physical & mental well-being of humanity has never been more relevant. Yoga has played a significant role in the psycho-social care and rehabilitation of COVID-19 patients in quarantine and isolation. Acknowledging this important role of Yoga, this year’s commemoration of the International Day of Yoga focuses on “Yoga for well-being” - how the practice of Yoga can promote the holistic health of every individual. Post COVID-19, corporates around the world have realized the need for implementing corporate wellness programs - one of which is introducing yoga in the workplace as a means of holistic development of their employees. Transitioning from a virtual world to in-person has been psycho-socially challenging and has led to high stress levels leading to anxiety in individual lives and have wide ranging effects like daytime fatigue, physical discomfort, psychological stress, performance deterioration and increased absenteeism. Over 53% of the corporate companies are opting for yoga sessions in the workplace to boost productivity, reduce sick days, increase mental clarity, combat fatigue, improve memory, fight stress and increase workplace satisfaction (ASSOCHAM Survey). Having long proven to provide many mental and physical benefits, Yoga is increasingly finding its way into the workplace. Leading successful companies like Apple, Google, and Forbes have introduced Yoga into their corporate wellness programs and have reaped benefits like improved productivity and increased employee motivation. Mentioned below are some benefits of Yoga that can improve employees’ productivity and motivation- 1. Reduces Stress - There is no denying the fact that long hours at work can be very stressful. Yoga is one of the best ways to combat stress and its adverse effects. It has been shown to reduce cortisol, the stress hormone. Taking time out to do a little yoga can significantly reduce stress and eliminate all the associated aspects. 2. Increases energy and reduces fatigue - Post COVID-19 wherein our bodies are constantly recovering, working non-stop throughout the day is bound to create stress which can lead to lower energy and burnout in the long run. Doing any form of physical activity every 30 minutes, including stretching or even consciously breathing can help rejuvenate. 3. Helps in fighting the adverse effects of a sedentary lifestyle - Most employees usually spend their time at work sedentary, without any physical activity. Such an inactive lifestyle can cause several health problems like obesity, diabetes, and so on. By incorporating yoga in their daily work routines, you can ensure that your employees get their dose of physical activity and stay healthy. 4. Improves concentration and productivity - Stressful deadlines, demanding workload & endless meetings can create a mental clutter that prevents you from concentrating on tasks and making intelligent decisions. Yoga, meditation & breathing exercises are a great way to effectively silence the noise and free the mind of clutter that is hindering productivity. 5. Increases employee morale & team spirit - Stressed employees are more likely to be hostile and aggressive which disrupts peace in the office and affects mood of employees negatively, causing them to be less motivated. With all its benefits, yoga boosts morale which will help create a harmonious workplace. Yoga is a holistic practice that provides you several physical and mental health benefits. Having mind-body programs like yoga incorporated into a work day, can help employees relieve stress and anxiety and become refreshed and focused. With increased energy levels, your employees will be more productive and motivated to work. Moreover, a yoga program is a cost-effective one that will require only 10-20 minutes of your employees’ time daily to reap its full benefits.