A new study backs up what yogis have experienced for five thousand years - that yoga is a highly effective stress management tool. The research, done at Bangor University, compared a group of University employees who practised a special type of yoga taught by Dru UK for 6 weeks, compared to a wait list group. Results showed that the yoga group reported feeling significantly less anxious, unsure, confused, tired, and depressed than the control group who did not practice yoga. In addition, the yoga group reported feeling more life purpose and satisfaction, and greater self-confidence during stressful situations.
This research is very timely as latest figures from the HSE suggest that stress in the workplace costs the UK over £530 million per year, which equates to over 13 million 'lost' working days. Experts believe these figures will increase further as a result of the recession.
Researchers conducted a randomized controlled study, (the first robust research done on yoga in the workplace) involving 48 university employees. They were either placed into a yoga programme, or wait listed, as the control group. The yoga group participated in a six week program of Yoga, comprising one weekly 60-minute class.
In the programme used in this research, top yoga teacher trainer Padma McIntyre taught lunchtime classes of Yoga to the participants in this study. Padma taught flowing Dru movements, which are accessible to people of all fitness levels and which have been found effective in reducing workplace stress. This programme was chosen for its accessibility for all employees (as the majority had never done yoga before), and for its effectiveness in reducing stress. The wait- list control group received no intervention during this study. All participants were self-assessed on mood and wellbeing before and after the six week study.
Results showed that the Yoga group reported feeling significantly less anxious, unsure, confused, tired, and depressed than the control group who did not practice yoga. In addition, the yoga group felt increased emotional well-being and resilience to stress.
Researchers concluded that even a short program of Yoga is effective for enhancing emotional well-being and resilience to stress in the workplace, and recommended that employers should consider offering yoga classes to their employees.
This research is important, not just because it is the first ever randomised controlled study done on yoga in the workplace, but because stress is becoming a major problem for thousands of people in Europe. In the UK over 13 million working days are lost every year because of stress and it is believed to trigger 70% of visits to doctors, and 85% of serious illnesses (UK HSE stress statistics). Experts believe these figures will increase further as a result of the recession.
Stress at work is a major problem, as it reduces productivity by affecting the performance of the brain, including major functions of work performance; memory, concentration, and learning. Stress also causes absenteeism and is believed to trigger 70% of visits to doctors, and 85% of serious illnesses (UK HSE stress statistics) Employers are actively seeking proven methods to deal with stress and yoga is a perfect solution. This study shows that even a short term programme of yoga can have long-term effects, enhancing emotional well-being and resilience to stress. Ideally, companies could offer lunchtime yoga classes to their employees, but even a short period of yoga can have great benefits.
Jane Clapham is a Dru Yoga and Meditation teacher, and leads yoga retreats and holidays in the Celtic mountains of Wales and worldwide. Contact her at hello@druworldwide.com to be included in the weekly newsletter from Dru worldwide, which includes yoga and stress-busting tips. For more information about Dru Yoga, which is the perfect preparation for meditation, visit http://www.druworldwide.com/ You'll find yoga classes, yoga holidays and yoga training courses which are taught in the UK, North America, Netherlands and Australia. Have a stress-free day!
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