Yoga and professional self care

Work can be really tough and exhausting, which can take a toll on our health and happiness. That’s why it’s crucial to find ways to manage stress and take care of our well-being. Yoga has become a popular way to benefit both our body and mind. When considering yoga in the workplace, it’s essential to keep in mind that it can enhance employees' health, encourage them to stay longer with the company, and improve their performance. Plus, it’s a win for employers who depend on their staff. This idea emerged from trends that show a growing interest in overall health and a shift in how we think about work, emphasizing the need for a better work-life balance. From my own experience with yoga, I've noticed a significant boost in emotional health. I was already aware of yoga's benefits before this study and felt that practicing it at work would support wellness, which became the main focus of my research.

This issue touches many people in the workforce, along with those who rely on them—like families and communities. In 2016, more than 62% of Americans were employed (Rodriguez, 2016). Workers in fields such as education, healthcare, and social services often face stress and fatigue, but their role in supporting others makes their well-being even more critical (Reeves et al., 2022). So, discussing workplace wellness and finding ways to maintain it is vital for everyone, regardless of age, background, or identity.

Society has really shaped the topic we’re looking into, creating a growing need for wellness. For example, the COVID-19 pandemic made many people feel lonely and stressed, which disrupted their well-being and underscored the importance of comfort and relaxation (Di Mario et al., 2023). In addition, Biman et al. (2021) and Di Mario et al. (2023) highlight that stress from work can lead to burnout, health issues, job loss, and an increased risk of injuries. Meanwhile, the concept of wellness and the practice of yoga, along with their benefits for productivity, have gained more recognition in society (Annavarapu, 2018; Swarbrick & Middleton, 2023). Because of this, there’s a rising demand to integrate these practices into people's work lives to help alleviate stress and its negative effects.

We can explore the issue through the perspective of general education, taking an interdisciplinary approach. If we examine history, yoga is an ancient practice and a living tradition that supports health (Biman et al., 2021). It’s one of the foundations of the wellness concept, reminding us of the deep roots of this idea (Global Wellness Institute, 2019). The term “wellness” began to be used in the 17th century, and by the 20th century, wellness activities were starting to emerge in the workplace (Global Wellness Institute, 2019). From a human angle, yoga plays a significant role in wellness and is a vital part of India’s culture (Annavarapu, 2018). Yet, these practices have spread across the globe, allowing people everywhere to embrace them as part of their journey to live healthier lives.

When we look at the topic of yoga for workplace wellness from both natural and applied science perspectives, we can see how yoga influences the body's physical and biological functions, along with the benefits it offers. Research indicates that practicing yoga at work can calm the mind, enhance overall health, and promote stability (Biman et al., 2021). By utilizing scientific methods like experiments and long-term studies, we can dive deeper into this subject. The findings from these studies can reveal the true effects of yoga by examining health-related measurements. From a social science standpoint, this topic is crucial for the workers themselves as well as for those affected by their work, because wellness significantly contributes to their productivity and effectiveness. These two viewpoints are particularly valuable as they emphasize the importance and impact of the topic, making it easier to select the right approach for studying it.

Therefore, we could propose a thesis statement that highlights the main focus of the study. Given the rising need for stress-reducing techniques in society, it can be argued that employing both natural and applied science along with social science perspectives, yoga in the workplace plays a key role in improving the wellness of employees and those influenced by their work. Exploring this issue can lead to better wellness outcomes for the workforce in various areas, including emotional, job-related, physical, and financial well-being.