Inside Yoga 63 (12/11/12)
Stress in our lives and at work can be a problem for many people.
The problem
Stress is a part of modern life, but does it need to have such a negative affect on our lives? Some sources, including the Health & Safety Executive, estimate that stress affects one in five of the working population – including everyone from the newest recruit to a company director.
Stress has consistently been one of the most commonly reported types of work-related illness cited in the national Labour Force Survey (LFS) conducted by the Office for National Statistics (ONS). Work-related stress caused workers in Great Britain to lose 10.4 million working days in 2011/12 based on the LFS data (source: the Health & Safety Executive).
These days more and more companies realise that spending some money on the well-being of their staff can help improve productivity and efficiency. A government report has concluded that for every £1 invested in wellbeing you can expect a £2.50 worth of gained productivity and efficiency.
The solution
Using his experience as a meditation teacher and yoga teacher, Gary offers courses, including one-off taster sessions, aimed at reducing stress. These can be run as a course over a limited time period, or, as a regular event (for example, weekly or monthly) – to fit in with the company’s timetable and budget. The sessions can take place in any room, eg conference/seminar room, using chairs, and wearing work/daily clothes. Ideal for the work place.
The sessions consist of advice on how to reduce and manage stress, as well as useful techniques that the individual can learn on the courses. These include mindfulness meditation and similar meditation techniques, along with breathing exercises, based on yoga pranayamas.
They are accessible and easy to learn – suitable for everyone, and an effective way of reducing stress and bringing balance to our lives. And in terms of work, this can help concentration levels and decision making – as a stess-free mind has the space and clarity to think properly.
Gary has been teaching these techniques, as part of his yoga and meditation teaching work, since 2002 and he himself has been practising meditation since 1995. He draws on his experience and knowledge to deliver a practical solution to stress and other negative states we experience in daily life.
For more information, see his website, www.yogabristol.co.uk, call Gary on 0789 903 4645 or email him at gary@yogabristol.co.uk
