Corporate Yoga Trends: From Stress Relief to Productivity Boost

Hello, beautiful people!

Your cheerful yoga teacher here, super pumped to talk about the amazing new phenomenon that is making waves in the corporate world: all things corporate yoga. You may be asking, “Yoga in the office?? How does that even work?!” Well buckle in, because we will take a deeper dive into how, at work, yoga is transforming from a stress reliever to, believe it or not, a productivity booster, all in the workplace, even right here in the busy city of your workplace!

For years, we have known that yoga was an excellent way to de-stress, loosen up stiff muscles, and find some of that inner peace we lost. Let’s face it, in this busy world we live in, we can all use a little inner peace! But many progressive companies are beginning to see how workplace yoga can shift its intention from purely de-stressing to evolving into a powerful medium to instead establish focus and build a team dynamic, with the ultimate goal of improving productivity.

The Elephant in the Room: Workplace Stress

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Let’s get real. The corporate world can be a pressure cooker! Long hours, short deadlines, and constant connectivity all accumulate, and before you know it, workplace stress quickly escalates! And workplace stress is not a buzzword; it is a real health concern that can lead to burnout, reduced morale, and significant health issues on its very own!

Traditional approaches to addressing stress typically involve reactive measures or quick fixes. But what if we are able to be proactive? What if we could have tools and resources in place to help us manage stress without allowing it to escalate? This is the beauty of corporate wellness initiatives that involve yoga. It has proved that no matter what situation you are dealing with, performing some yoga sessions right at your table or desk can help you in many ways that you might definitely not have thought of at all.

So, how could integrating yoga in the workplace facilitate such changes? Here are just a couple of ways:

• Stress Relief: Stress relief is often a primary reason for engaging in yoga, and with good reason. Even the briefest office yoga practice can alleviate tension, calm the nervous system, and provide a break from mental fatigue. A simple practice with a few minutes of breathwork and gentle stretches can entirely shift this experience. It will loosen up your stressed muscles a bit and give you a relaxing experience even after the session ends.
• Enhanced Focus & Concentration: Has there ever been a time in your life when you wanted to be engaged in your work, in a meeting, or processing through something work-related? Yoga practices train your brain to focus or be present. This helps hone in on better focus and more concentrated work, which can impact employee productivity. 
• Physical Wellness: Sitting at a desk all day can wreak havoc on our physical bodies: back pain, tight necks, and lack of attention to good posture, to name a few. Incorporating desk yoga or short mindful movements during the workday can help negate some of those feelings and result in fewer aches and pains and more energy. With this, you can have fewer sick days and a healthier workforce!
• Enhanced Team Morale: Practicing yoga as a group, even via a video call, creates a different bonding experience for the team. It creates a feeling of community—of having a shared experience that is positive and contributes back to the corporation in a more supportive and harmonious culture.
• Increased Creativity and Problem Solving. When the mind is calm and clear, new ideas can flow! Yoga offers mental space and opportunities for spacing out, which is remarkable for innovation and employee wellness.
• Accessibility. The great thing about beginner yoga for employees i s that it appeals to all. Different modifications can be offered for any fitness level/body type, and even for those with limited mobility! You do not need hair and fancy gear or years of experience to get something out of this. 

What does corporate yoga look like?

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It does not have to look like handstands in the boardroom (unless that’s what your team wants!). Corporate yoga classes are usually modified for a workplace and have been known to include:

• Chair Yoga: great for a quick little refresh without stepping away from your desk; think gentle stretches and mindful breathing.
• Lunchtime Classes: 30-45 mins a class in a meeting room or wellness space, just like the duration of your meal of the day.
• Virtual Yoga: It goes without saying this is very popular right now and allows remote teams to participate wherever they are working. This is very exciting for remote health and wellbeing initiatives. 
• Mindfulness & Meditation Workshops: Focusing on mental clarity and stress reduction techniques.

Bringing Yoga to Your Workplace

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If you are an employee and you want to develop a yoga program for employees, don’t be frightened to have a conversation with your HR team or your manager about the benefits that would highlight employee engagement, stress videos, and just growth for your business.

If you are a business or HR professional, think of this as a great investment in your most valuable resource—your people. Whether you support employee wellness programs like corporate yoga or provide any other employee health and wellbeing career, you are showing to your staff that you care about their health and happiness.

Consistent with planning this kind of practice in the workplace, your staff will be more engaged, productive, and loyal. With the current demand for skilled labor, getting the balance of promoting a positive work-life balance is a must, not just a nice thing to do.

The trend of corporate yoga is only going to gain momentum and has expanded from a niche offering for work staff to be part of the mainstream that supports effective corporate well-being strategies. It’s a simple but practical means of changing the workplace one awareness and one mindful stretch at a time.

What are your thoughts on yoga in the workplace? Have you experienced it? Share your insights in the comments below! And if you’re anywhere in the world and looking to bring the power of yoga to your team, feel free to reach out—we’d love to help!