Bringing Meditation and Breath Work into the Office
Why is it Important?
As we know, the corporate world is a fast-paced, often stressful environment. Within that demanding setting, it can be hard for employees to stay focused, calm, and productive. Guided meditation and breath work are two simple practices that have been shown to have a significant impact on workers' mental and emotional states. By regularly incorporating these practices into the workplace, employees can improve their productivity and bring teams together, making for a more harmonious and effective work environment.
Meditation has been practiced for thousands of years, with evidence suggesting that it can have numerous benefits for both the mind and the body. In recent years, there have been a growing number of studies that have looked at the effects of meditation in the workplace. The results have been promising, showing that regular meditation can improve focus, reduce stress, and increase overall well-being.
Breathing exercises have also been shown to have significant benefits for the body and mind. By controlling the breath, individuals can slow their heart rate, reduce anxiety, and increase feelings of calm and relaxation. When incorporated into the workplace, especially together, these exercises can help employees feel more centered and focused, allowing them to be more productive and efficient.
What are the Benefits?
These practices can have numerous benefits for both employees and employers. For employees, they are able to reduce stress, improve mood, and increase productivity. These practices also typically improve communication and collaboration among teams, bringing them closer together. For employers, a more harmonious and productive workplace can result in increased job satisfaction, reduced absenteeism, and increased overall productivity.
Incorporating guided meditations and breath work into the workplace can be a simple and effective way to improve mental and emotional well-being, increase productivity, and bring teams together. By taking just a few minutes each day to focus on the breath and engage in mindfulness, employees can reap the benefits of these ancient practices and enjoy a more harmonious work environment.
What Organizations Offer Meditation?
Many companies are now offering onsite meditation, meditation apps, or guided breath work to their employees as a way to promote wellness and improve productivity. Some of the most prominent companies include:
Google - The tech giant has offered onsite meditation rooms and mindfulness programs for its employees for several years.
Salesforce - The cloud computing company has a dedicated meditation room and offers employees access to meditation apps and other wellness resources.
Aetna - The health insurance company has an onsite meditation program and offers its employees access to a mindfulness app as part of its well-being initiative.
Goldman Sachs - The investment bank offers onsite meditation classes and has installed meditation rooms in some of its offices.
Procter & Gamble - The consumer goods company has onsite meditation rooms and offers its employees access to meditation and mindfulness resources.
Intel - The semiconductor company has onsite meditation rooms and offers its employees access to a mindfulness app to help them manage stress and improve focus.
Does Your Company Offer Meditation and Breath Work?
Want to learn more about bringing meditation and breath work to your office? We can help!
Check out our ELEMENTAL CORPORATE program or drop us a line HERE.
References:
Jha, A. P., Krompinger, J., & Baime, M. J. (2007). “Mindfulness practice leads to increases in regional brain gray matter density.” Psychiatry Research: Neuroimaging, 191(1), 36-43.
Benson, H., & Proctor, W. W. (2011). “Scientific Evidence for Medical Applications of Transcendental Meditation: A Review.” Journal of Social Behavior and Personality, 16(1), 189-247.
Weare, K., & Nind, M. (2011). “Health and well-being in the workplace: The role of the physical environment and organizational culture.” Health & Place, 17(2), 557-564.
Khoury, B., Lecomte, T., Fortin, G., Masse, M., Therien, P., Bouchard, V., Hofmann, S. G. (2013). “Mindfulness-based therapy: A comprehensive meta-analysis.” Clinical Psychology Review, 33(6), 763-771.
Tang, Y.-Y., Ma, Y., Fan, Y., Feng, H., Wang, J., Feng, S., ... & Fan, M. (2015). “Short-term meditation training improves attention and self-regulation.” Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 112(33), 10469-10473.
