Top 10 Reasons to Start a Yoga Program at the Office
In the last few years, we’ve seen a major upswing of interest in yoga for the office. What’s most exciting is that we know it’s working: our client surveys show that office yoga can be an essential contributor to employee well being, productivity and a healthy bottom line.
If you’ve been thinking about how to start on site yoga classes at your company or organization, here are some useful facts to help you make a compelling case to management or your HR department:.
Top 10 Reasons to Start a Yoga Program at the Office
- Office yoga improves overall employee physical health. This may be obvious, but the particulars include: counteracting the decreased mobility and bloodflow from long periods of sitting; detoxifying and toning muscles; and relieving head, neck, and back strain along with carpel tunnel syndrome, high blood pressure, poor posture and inflexibility.
- Office yoga saves the company money in the form of less sick days and fewer health insurance claims. The typical ROI on office yoga is 5:1, meaning for every dollar spenton yoga classes in your workplace, the return on your investment is 20 cents.
- Office yoga boosts employee morale and team spirit, as shown time and time again in our employee surveys. And unlike one-off team building exercises that have a short-term effect, a regular yoga program creates a climate of positive reinforcement that encourages employees to stick with it.
- Office yoga is supported by the government. The Affordable Care Act specifically designates money for new incentives that encourage employers to promote healthier workplaces and preventative wellness programs. Provisions in the Prevention and Public Health Fund help waive cost sharing for preventive services, provide new funding for community preventive services, and create workplace wellness programs. The PPHF includes $200 million for small business wellness plan grants and is a major component of health reform.
- Office yoga is a tax write off. Your company can write off yoga classes as a tax deduction, part of typical wellness expenses.
- Office yoga boosts productivity. A mid-day break from hunching over the computer improves blood flow to the brain and helps employees with problem solving with increased mental focus.
- Office yoga is a great way to attract and retain good talent, as companies such as Toms Shoes, Edmunds.com and Google know all too well!
- Office yoga is convenient. Offering classes at the office saves employees the time of driving and parking. You can even do yoga and meditation right at employees’ desks, eliminating the need to change location or clothing.
- Office yoga is affordable. The average cost to attend a yoga class in a major city is around $20. Group classes offered with unlimited attendance can really bring the cost down to just a few dollars per person.
- Office yoga reduces stress. This is the number one challenge employees say they face at work; office-based classes help employees manage their daily stress effectively through yoga gentle exercise, breath and meditation.
McKenna Rowe is the Founder of Chakra 5 Mobile Yoga, an experienced team of corporate yoga instructors that provides mobile yoga classes on location and by appointment at businesses, schools and organizations throughout greater Los Angeles. Call us to start your corporate wellness program today: 310-853-3885.