| Do you ever wonder how you could bring your | | | | management, and your co-workers, might not |
| Yoga practice into the workplace? Perhaps, the | | | | approve. |
| company you work for, scoffs at the idea of | | | | Let's consider distractions, at work, that take you |
| Yoga in work. Here is a way to be at peace with | | | | out of the present moment. Is there a negative |
| yourself and practice Yoga without drawing | | | | person who changes the atmosphere of the |
| attention to it. | | | | office, just by showing up for work? Is there a |
| In some companies, mentioning meditation, | | | | person who dresses provocatively? Each of these |
| Pranayama, and mindfulness practice, during work | | | | situations can be bothersome, but you can change |
| hours, might get you called into the "front office" | | | | them by practicing Pranayama and being mindful |
| for a lecture on company policy. This is a shame | | | | of it. |
| because these Yogic practices would help many | | | | When you stare at a co-worker, whether you |
| companies become more productive, focused, | | | | approve, or disapprove, it is a waste of |
| and create an atmosphere of harmony for | | | | productive time. If the person is negative, you |
| everyone. | | | | should be kind, but firm. If the person is |
| The largest causes of production loss, at work, | | | | attractive, you should be mindful of your situation. |
| are daily distractions and absenteeism. As we | | | | You are in work and ethics should be taken into |
| know, many employees need a break from work; | | | | consideration. |
| and the more stress, within the workplace, the | | | | If we disapprove of a co-worker's behavior or |
| more time employees will take off. | | | | dress - do we have a right to make it an issue? |
| Some forward-thinking companies have introduced | | | | We cannot expect everyone to behave or dress |
| Yoga classes, during lunch or during an extended | | | | according to our standards. If upper management |
| break. However, if your company does not have | | | | does not take action, what can any of us do? |
| a Yoga program for its employees - let's think | | | | With respect to meditation in the workplace: we |
| about practicing Pranayama alone. The concepts | | | | are not considering deep meditation while |
| of natural breath are understood more easily than | | | | operating dangerous machinery. Anyone who |
| mindfulness for many students of Yoga. | | | | operates machinery should be mindful of his, or |
| Natural Breath is a Yogic form of Pranayama - | | | | her, tasks for the safety of everyone. |
| where your stomach rises on the inhalation and | | | | However, natural breath Pranayama, which is |
| the navel draws inward during exhalation. This | | | | taught in any Hatha Yoga class, can become |
| sounds simple enough, but practicing this Yoga | | | | automatic, when it is practiced more often, during |
| breathing technique, during stressful situations, and | | | | the day and at night. |
| being mindful of it, is a task within itself. | | | | Yoga allows us to practice its methods, at any |
| What is the benefit of Pranayama during work? | | | | time, and apply the benefits to daily life. You can |
| Your blood pressure will be more stable and you | | | | practice good posturing, proper breathing, |
| will be able to function more rationally during work | | | | mindfulness, and a moderate diet, without any |
| hours. Once your breath becomes steady, you | | | | difficulty, if you make it an intentional habit. Even, |
| can make a regular habit of being mindful about it. | | | | if our work environment is chaotic, Yoga practice, |
| There are other forms of Pranayama, but it may | | | | during work, allows us to find a quiet place to |
| be wise to avoid the noisy variations, which | | | | concentrate from within. |