The effectiveness of yoga for the improvement of well-being and resilience to stress in the workplace

Abstract

Hartfiel N, Havenhand J, Khalsa SB, Clarke G, Krayer A. The effectiveness of yoga for the improvement of well-being and resilience to stress in the workplace. Scand J Work Environ Health. 2011;37(1):70-76.Objectives Recent research has indicated concern for the degree of stress and emotional well-being among university staff. This study examined the effectiveness of yoga in enhancing emotional well-being and resilience to stress among university employees.Methods In a randomized controlled trial at a British university, we recruited 48 employees and randomized them into either a yoga or a wait-list control group. The yoga group was offered six weeks of Dru Yoga, comprising one 60-minute class per week. These classes were offered by a certified Dru Yoga instructor at lunchtime from January-March 2008. The wait-list control group received no intervention during this six-week study. Baseline and end-program measurements of self-reported mood and well-being were self-assessed with the Profile of Mood States -Bipolar (POMS-Bi) and the Inventory of Positive Psychological Attitudes (IPPA).Results This six-week yoga intervention resulted in significantly improved POMS-Bi and IPPA scores for the yoga compared to the wait-list control group for seven of eight measures of mood and well-being. In comparison to the wait-list control group at baseline and the end of the program, the yoga group reported marked improvements in feelings of clear-mindedness, composure, elation, energy, and confidence. In addition, the yoga group reported increased life purpose and satisfaction, and feelings of greater self-confidence during stressful situations. ConclusionThese results show that even a short program of yoga is effective for enhancing emotional wellbeing and resilience to stress in the workplace. We suggest that employers should consider offering yoga classes to their employees.Key terms breathing exercise; movement; occupational health; physical activity; positive health; randomized controlled trial; RCT; relaxation. Improving well-being and resilience to stress are key issues facing many organizations (1-2). In the UK alone, 97% of senior human resources professionals believe stress is the biggest threat to the future health of the workforce (3), and estimates suggest 175 million working days are lost each year in the UK due to sickness absence, half of which are stress-related (4). There is also a growing trend toward long-term absences of ≥20 days, due in large part to psychosocial factors such as stress, anxiety, and depression (5).Well-being in the workplace is characterized by employees who perceive themselves to be growing, engaged, and productive and who experience positive emotional states such as pleasure, joy, and energy that help buffer against stress and depression (6-8). Stress has been defined as the inability to cope with a perceived threat to one's mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being (9). Resilience to stress means that employees can respond productively when faced with significant change or pre...

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