Corporate Yoga

Yoga for Corporate Workers and Corporate Workplaces

Another day at the office: meetings, emails, phone calls, deadlines, competing priorities, and on and on. The stress and anxiety from office work can be unrelenting. And it doesn’t end when you leave the office – or maybe you work from home and office and home have blended together. Often work stress carries on after work hours at home, in the car, or when you are with family, friends or other activities. Are you fully present in these other settings, or is work stress still in the background? Stress is corrosive to the mind and body, reducing effectiveness and productivity.

What to do? Where to find meaningful relaxation to reverse stress and anxiety? Often physical exercise is an answer. Research suggests that exercise releases hormones that make us feel good and counters the hormones that are released from stress. However, fast-paced, high-energy workouts or competitive sports may bring their own stresses upon the body. The body/mind/nervous system all need time to reset and refocus. The answer may be in mindful activities such as yoga.

A yoga practice brings mind and body into the present moment, letting the stress of the day fall away. The nervous system is down-shifted from “fight or flight” to a calmer state. A yoga practice can range from a high-intensity hot vinyasa session to a completely chill restorative yoga session, but any yoga practice can reset the nervous system. The mind controls how the whole body feels, and calming the mind has a calming effect on the full body. A yoga session may also include meditation and breathwork which both have amazing capabilities to calm the mind and body.

Yoga goes beyond just stretching and moving the body. A consistent practice has a positive impact on multiple aspects of the whole person:

• Physical

• Mental

• Working effectively in a group

And whether you are an office worker who feels a need for a work/life balance or you are a manager looking to energize your team, let’s dive deeper into all the benefits from a yoga practice.

Physical Benefits

As a low impact and accessible form of movement, the most evident benefits from a consistent yoga practice are how it improves physical health.

• Yoga improves flexibility, strength and stamina

• Yoga improves cardiovascular health

• Yoga improves skeletal alignment and balance which can be negatively affected by prolonged sitting at a desk, looking at screens or from repetitive movements

• Yoga can reduce risk from diabetes and other chronic disease

• Yoga increases the participant’s energy level

Mental Wellbeing Benefits

Modern corporate life is filled with stress and anxiety. Corporate teams are being asked to perform at a high level all the time which may lead to a sense of feeling overwhelmed and being under constant pressure.

Yoga may be one way to help alleviate emotional and mental stresses. It is a mindful activity that reduces stress and anxiety, bringing clarity to the mind. While moving in a mindful way, the active mind is calmed by focusing on the breath and the movement. The active mind can reset and productivity and problem solving is enhanced after a yoga practice. The practice provides a sense of being both grounded into the present moment and lifted up with a sharper mental focus.

Yoga may also foster introspection and improved concentration leading to improved productivity and problem solving. Participants will find a calm state of mind, enhancing cognitive abilities and resilience.

Teamwork and Group Benefits

Managers and employees are looking for ways to improve individual and team performance. Yoga offers ways to improve overall team results. Even one individual practicing yoga who demonstrates a calmer demeanor and increased focus can elevate the entire team. This heightened mental clarity not only benefits individual employees but also contributes to the overall success and effectiveness of the workplace environment. There is a sense of unity, teamwork, camaraderie and empathy that may develop.

Some ideas to incorporate yoga in a teamwork environment might include:

• Offering ongoing yoga classes in a corporate fitness center

• Offering online yoga or other mindfulness classes

• Offering subsidized memberships to a nearby yoga studio

• A short team yoga/stretch break scheduled during the week

• A yoga break during a long meeting

• A yoga break during a day long conference can refresh participants

• Encouraging short mindful breaks during the workday

A yoga practice to provide physical, mental and teamwork benefits need not only be from a traditional yoga class on a mat. Chair yoga held in a conference room can be beneficial and easier to set up and may provide better acceptance by those not inclined for a mat-based yoga class due to injury, age or other concerns.


Please connect if you want to discuss the value of a yoga practice in a corporate office environment.