Combating Workplace Stress With Yoga: A Path To Better Performance

Workplace stress is a pervasive challenge, undermining well-being and productivity. This discussion explores howyoga, a holistic practice of mind and body, offers a potent solution. By integrating its techniques, individuals canmitigate stress, enhance focus, and achievebetter performancein their professional lives.

This article is authored byDr Narendra K Shetty_Chief Wellness Officer_Kshemavana Naturopathy and Yoga Center

From Calmness to Enhanced Performance

Meaning of Yoga

The term Yoga is derived from the Sanskrit word Yuj, which means the union of the individual self with universal self.It is an extension of the narrow constrictedegoistic personality to the ubiquitous, eternal, and blissfulstate of REALITY.The great Sage Maharishi Patanjali is considered as the father of Yoga , because he compiled the essential features and principles of yoga in the form of Sutras and he sytematized the yoga, nearly 4000 years ago.

Stress

Stress is the term used to describe the physical, emotional, cognitive, and behavioural responses to events that are appraised as threatening or challenging . Stress causing events are called stressors; it can be external or internal source and range from mild to severe. Stressors are of 2 types, eustress which is the positive stress, optimal amount of stress that people need to promote health and well-being . Distress , negative stress, which occurs when people experience unpleasent stressors.

Don't Miss:Yoga for Better Digestion: 6 Asanas That Stimulate Gut Health

Understanding Workplace Stress

The detrimental physical and emotional reaction that arises when employment demands do not align with an employee's skills, resources, or requirements is known as workplace stress. It's more than simply a bad day;chronicstresscan causereduced workperformance, burnout,sleep disorders, depression , anxietyandeven lifestyle disorders like obesity , hypertension and diabetes mellitus.

Common causes for stress are excessive workload, unrealistic expectations from manager,poor work - life balance,inflexible work schedules , job insecurity, worry about promotions, incentives, lack of time for self care or personal routine.

Stress can show itself in many ways. Physical symptoms include fatigue, sleeping problems, frequent colds, chest pain, nausea, eating too much, crying a lot, getting addicted for alcohol, smoking or physically striking out at others by hitting or throwing things. Emotionally,people experience anxiety, depression, fear and irritability, anger and frustration. Mental symptoms include problems in memory, concentration, and decision making and even lose their sense of humor.

Why Yoga ?

Yoga is the science of right living and as such is intended to be incorporated in daily life. It works on all aspects of person: the physical, vital, mental, emotional , psychic and spiritual.Yoga works on holistic principles of harmony and unification. Many evidences say that yoga brings harmony and balance between endocrine and nervous systems which directly influences all other systems and organs of the body. Asanas do remove physical discomfort accumulated during a day at office sitting on a chair, hunched over a desk. Relaxation techniques diminishes mental traits and helps in manifesting mind towards positivity.

Simple Yoga Practices

1. Loosening Exercises - head and neck movement and rotation, wrist movement and rotation, hip rotation , knee movement.
2. Simple chair yoga - seated spinal twisting, cat and camel stretch
3. Asanas - Trikonasana, Virabhadrasana, Vrikshasana, Pawanamuktasana, Setubandasana, Bhujangasana, Ardha Matsyendrasana, Vajrasana, Shashankasana
4. Pranayama - Bhastrika, Anuloma- viloma, Bhramari
5. Meditation

Workplace stress is inevitable, but can be manageable by simple yoga practices. Yoga not only reduces stress but it also a real tool to combat social malaise. Yoga provides a way for people to find their own way of connecting with their true selves.

Don't Miss:One Pose, Many Benefits: Unlock the Power of Mermaid Pose in Just 30 Seconds

If you liked this story, then please share it. To read more such stories, stay connected to HerZindagi

Image Credit: freepik.