Meditation is becoming increasingly popular at workplaces, according to a recent article in Canada’s The Globe and Mail. And the benefits are significant across the board—employers report that employees have lowered stress levels and better communication as a result.
“Beyond the trite fluff in self-help books about self-affirmation or optimism as a route for success, there’s solid research that proves meditation at workplaces can be effective at making leaders better and employees more effective,” associate professor of organizational behavior at the University of Guelph Jamie Gruman told a reporter.
Gruman echoes the thoughts of Bill George, a professor of management practice at Harvard Business School, who recently wrote about mindfulness meditation at workplaces in business for the Harvard Business Review. “When you are mindful, you’re aware of your presence and the ways you impact other people,” he wrote. “You’re able to both observe and participate in each moment, while recognizing the implications of your actions for the longer term. And that prevents you from slipping into a life that pulls you away from your values.”
The trend toward meditation at workplaces is exemplified at companies like Apple, Google, and AOL Time Warner, where employees enjoy meditation rooms and classes. Similar to yoga, meditation in the workplace is becoming more accessible as it is coined as a practice in mindfulness instead of something that’s religious or spiritual in nature.
The trend toward mindfulness meditation in the workplace is further supported by a study in the journal Occupational Medicine that found yoga in the workplace reduced stress as well as back pain.
Does your workplace embrace meditation practices? Corporate Yoga Melbourne deliver meditation to workplaces across Australia.
