My Experience with Yoga at Work
Years ago, when I worked in a physical workspace, I looked forward to attending company-sponsored mid-day yoga sessions.
Classes were also offered after 5 p.m. but being a mom with young children, that didn't work for my schedule.
Knowing at the start of each week that I would practice yoga from noon to 1 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays gave me something to look forward to and the knowledge that I was caring for my body and mind.
After class was over and it was time to get back to my responsibilities, I was in a better mood. I felt stronger, my body was in less pain, and somehow, I was better able to cope with the stressful work environment. Although I loved doing yoga asanas at that time, I didn’t think about or have a clear understanding of the deep benefits beyond the physical ones.
Today, as a certified yoga instructor, I have a deep understanding of the benefits that yoga asana practice provides for all who take part in the ancient practice.
My favorite benefit of practicing yoga is that it has helped decrease my lower back pain. I’ve noticed that since creating a consistent practice, my muscles don’t feel as tight as they have in the past, especially in my calves and lower back.
Other physical benefits of practicing yoga regularly can include reduced inflammation, increased strength, a boost in immunity, improved balance, increased heart health, improved sleep, and improved posture.
Without a doubt, these physical benefits can help improve the quality of one’s life. At work, I believe these benefits increase immensely.
Sitting at a desk all day does more harm than good for our backs, legs, and ultimately our hearts. Practicing yoga asanas is beneficial in alleviating the tightness that occurs in the hip flexors and hamstrings that come from sitting in one position for long periods. It also helps with blood flow thanks to the conscious breathing that is practiced throughout yoga asanas or during pranayama (breathing) exercises.
Yoga also has immense benefits on emotional and mental health, specifically by reducing anxiety, increasing mental health, and lowering stress levels.
I can attest to this firsthand, as taking yoga breaks in the middle of an extremely stressful workday proved beneficial for me in coping with workplace stress.
It also gave me something else to focus on, which essentially was my health, and I upheld the belief that if I could overcome holding myself in bridge pose, I could certainly overcome the temporary discomfort of the company culture.
Don’t get me wrong, practicing yoga asanas is not a fix for a troubled company culture, but it is an extremely helpful tool in helping to recenter.
If your nonprofit doesn’t have a yoga program, work on starting a yoga club where you and your colleagues can meet for 45 minutes to an hour to practice yoga on your own.
Is your nonprofit looking for a certified yoga instructor? Schedule a workplace yoga consultation. Together we can determine what a workplace yoga practice can look like for your employees.