Yogis, rejoice.
September is National Yoga Month.
And even if you aren’t a yogi, there's a reason to celebrate this ancient practice. The mental benefits of yoga are well documented as an excellent way to relieve stress. Plus, it’s a great way to increase blood circulation and move your body after a long day of sitting in the office.
And you don’t have to do hot yoga for the benefits, either.
Anyone of any age can reap the benefits with a regular practice — from restorative yoga to vinyasa, there are options for all fitness levels!
Interested? If increases flexibility and a relaxed mind sounds good to you, read on!
What is National Yoga Month?
Every year, September is recognized as National Yoga Month. The annual occurrence is to educate Americans on the health benefits yoga offers. Like other health awareness months, the goal is to spread the word about how yoga creates a healthier lifestyle.
What are the Benefits of Yoga?
As this Yoga Journal article points out, the benefits of a yoga practice are numerous. Practitioners of yoga report both mental and physical perks of maintaining a regular yoga program.
Physical benefits of yoga
While many folks enjoy a great amount of stress reduction from yoga, the physical benefits are just as significant. The American Osteopathic Association reported these benefits:
- Increased flexibility
- Injury protection
- Increased muscle strength and tone
- Cardio and circulatory health
- Improved athletic performance
Mental benefits of yoga
Some consider yoga a spiritual practice. Others use it as a way to clear their mind. If you’re looking to relieve stress, the mental benefits of yoga alone may be enough to get your practice started. Some of the mental perks include:
- Sharpened focus
- Anxiety relief
- Newfound clarity
- A sense of peace
- Relaxation of the mind
- Increased concentration
Perhaps the best benefit of yoga? It can be done anywhere. Whether you’re in the comfort of your own home or traveling for work, a yoga setting is flexible. If you want a change of scenery, it’s easy to take your practice indoors or outdoors. All you need is a yoga mat!
Help Employees Start a Yoga Practice Today
Ready to help your employees discover the benefits of yoga? If so, there are a few ways to go about it. And you don’t need to build an on-site yoga studio to do it, either.
Here are some ideas to get you started:
- Hire a yoga teacher for a group lesson at work
- Have employees sign-up for a week of free yoga here
- Share office yoga videos
- Host a yoga teacher for a lunch and learn
- Print + share a list of the mental benefits of yoga
No matter how you introduce it to your employees, just be sure to let them know the mental and physical rewards. Doing so may encourage them to take up the practice more willingly.
If you have a large number of employees who are interested in yoga, consider hosting a quarterly yoga retreat. For smaller groups, bringing in a private instructor or offering memberships to a local yoga studio may be more feasible.
No matter how you decide to approach it, National Yoga Month is the perfect time to introduce yoga to your employees to help them enhance their mental and physical fitness today and for life.
Interested in sharing mindfulness techniques in the workplace? Check out our free guide below!
