“Yoga is a light, which once lit will never dim. The better your practice, the brighter your flame.” — B.K.S. Iyengar
We as chartered accountants are the doctors of the financial health of our clients, which includes the family of the client and also his employees and his close associates.
It’s crucial for us to understand the impact of our health and our team members’ health on work performance and decision making.
It is not just physical fitness as it is generally pursued to be the lone parameter of good health. True health is being physically ,mentally, emotionally and spiritually fit.
All of us are juggling multiple responsibilities and do not get enough time to unwind. This unending race against time causes stress, anxiety and other health problems such as headaches, backaches, lethargy, and many more.
With the help of yogasanas, pranayama and meditation, one can achieve an integrated total personality and unlock the dynamic self. This also paves the way for creativity and innovations at work, thus increasing work efficiency.
It is generally observed that professionals who practice yoga before or during work hours are better placed to manage their challenges during the day. It is also well understood that their general efficiency and mood improved on days they practiced yoga and were less calm on days they did not.
Chair yoga can be practiced during the working hours helping the professionals take healthy break from the monotonous work.
Benefits of introducing yoga at workplace are manifold, some common benefits are:
- Alleviates common pain from desk jobs
- Increases energy and reduces fatigue
- Improves concentration and focus
- Improves posture
- Develops immunity
- Reduces absenteeism
- Reduces irritability and aggression
- Promotes team spirit & morale
- Increases confidence
- Promotes workforce bonding
Here are some basic asanas along with the benefits.
Adho-mukha-vajrasana
Childs pose, is a soothing and quieting pose for the mind and body. This pose can be practiced to build flexibility in the back to prepare for deeper forward bending poses.
It is also a counter pose to recover from back bending poses like Bhujangasana, Urdhvadhaburasana, Shalabhasana and the like.
Benefits:
- Stretches back, hips and legs and provides relief from lower back pain.
- Reduction of stress, tension and anxiety.
- Can help relieve menstrual or digestive discomfort.
- Helps mental and physical relaxation,
- Assists spine lengthening, groin release and improves knee, ankle and foot mobility.
“Badhakonasana”
In Sanskrit, the word ‘Baddha means Bound, ‘Kona’ meaning Angle or Split, and ‘Asana’ meaning posture.
Badhakonasana is popularly known as the Butterfly Pose and sometimes also as the Cobbler Pose.
This asana is simple and highly effective, it is one of the “must-do” yoga asanas for all.
Benefits:
- This asana stretches the inner and outer thighs, groins, and knees.
- It strengthens hips, legs, lower back and abdomen
- Badhakonasana helps the intestine and bowel movements.
- Removes fatigue from long hours of standing and walking.
- Badhakonasana gives relief from menstrual discomfort and menopause symptoms.
- Also gives relief from urinary discomfort and prevents hernia.
- It soothes sciatica pain.
- It is a great pose during the time of pregnancy. Helps in smooth delivery if practiced regularly until late pregnancy.
“Vajrasana” comes from the Sanskrit word, “Vajra” which means “thunderbolt” or “diamond” and “asana” means “Pose”.
This asana is also known as “Diamond Pose”.
Yoga asanas should be performed on an empty stomach, as a thumb rule. But this asana can be done immediately after the meal. It is infact recommended to sit in this pose after the meal for 5-10 minutes to help in proper digestion.
The benefits of Vajrasana are:
- It helps in digestion and to get rid of constipation and other stomach disorders.
- It helps in combating acidity.
- This asana gives longevity and strengthens the spine.
- It helps to improves blood circulation throughout the body.
- The vajrasana variation helps calm the mind and helps in relaxation.
This diamond pose is best for you to practice breathing exercises and meditation.
Yoga can help to create healthy, less-stressed and motivated team members who are more productive and cost-effective for organisations. Encouraging employees to take just 10 minutes during work hours to practice some simple yoga stretches or breathing exercises at their desk or out in the fresh air can help tremendously.
Besides yoga, all professionals must consume a nutritional diet, get adequate sleep, and stay positive.
Remember, nothing will change overnight, regular practice is the key.
To conclude ,
Yoga does not just change the way you see things, it transforms the person who sees.
- BSK Iyengar
