Bring yoga into the workplace to combat stress
Stress in the workplace, along with new employee orientation and coworkers who drink too much at holiday parties, is one of the downsides of working. Most employees reluctantly accept stress as “part of the job.” Left unattended, though, workplace stress can lead to increased illness and injury. Dealing with workplace conditions can help alleviate some of the stress, but employees also need ways in which to manage the stress on their own. Yoga is an excellent tool that can be easily implemented in any workplace to help employees relax, focus and improve their overall health. Various surveys...
read moreBoost your ego with yoga practice
We gathered Sunday morning for a session with a visiting yoga teacher. We sat expectantly on our mats, waiting for his words of wisdom, the spiritual nectar that would nourish our souls. He laid out the guidelines for our practice: You may be overwhelmed with emotions — crying, laughing, ecstasy — this is normal, don’t be afraid. If you need to go to the bathroom, raise your hand so you can be escorted safely — in your spiritual bliss, you might accidentally wander into the street. After that introduction, I anxiously eyed the doorway on the other side of the yoga room. I...
read moreMom, Can I Go Outside and Exercise…I Mean…Play?
When I was a child, exercise was never a planned activity. My friends wouldn’t call me up and say, “Man, spelling class was a real bear today. Mrs. Hammond was riding me all through the adjectives. Let’s hit the gym, I need a good workout to blow off some steam.” We would just go to the park and play ball, ride our bikes to get where we needed to go, or spend hours hiking through the woods with no particular destination in mind. Sometimes we were like cats, sitting perfectly still in the sunshine, then–BAM!–we took off running across the playground. There was no need to change...
read moreIncreased Retirement Age Requires Improved Health
U.S. lawmakers are finally starting to talk seriously about making changes to Social Security that will help the system remain solvent longer. Of course, it took a major financial crisis before these conversations became acceptable on Capitol Hill, but I won’t hold that against the lawmakers. In our country, it’s impolite and awkward to bring up serious topics unless there is an urgent need for action (e.g. talking to your children about sex on prom night or telling your boss about the now-rotting tuna sandwich you forgot in her desk drawer). Left untouched, Social Security will run out of...
read moreBeginner’s Guide to Travel Yoga
Q: I travel frequently and want to learn some yoga so I can do it in my hotel room when I have time or need to relax. I have never done yoga before, so would like suggestions on how to get started. The travel brochure didn’t mention stress When you say travel, I assume you are not using it the way my grandparents do. When they were young, the entire family walked a mile into the mosquito-infested woods to live for the summer in an electricity-free cabin. If they were really lucky, the outhouse hole was filled with…well, you know what…and they would get to dig another hole to kick...
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Stop Waiting – Read the New Short Story Now
