The role of Yoga in working from home during the COVID-19 global lockdown

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic has become a major cause of stress and anxiety worldwide. Due to the global lockdown, work, employment, businesses and the economic climate have been severely affected. It has generated stress among people from all sections of society, especially to workers who have been assigned to cater to healthcare service or those constrained to secure daily essential items. It is widely perceived that elderly or those affected by diabetes, hypertension and other cardiovascular diseases (CVD’s) are prone to COVID-19. As per an ongoing survey, the initial data shows that the above-mentioned anxiety and stress cause insomnia, and has the considerable potential to weaken the immune system, the sole protection against the virus. OBJECTIVE: This study focuses on the need of Yoga practice at work places and at home during the global lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: Literature was searched using PubMed and Google Scholar for COVID-19-related stress and anxiety at work and society due to the worldwide lockdown. The predisposing comorbidities, viral mechanism of action and treatment regimen were also searched. Yoga-based intervention studies and online programs were also searched. RESULTS: As the lockdown cannot last forever and workplaces will have to be functional soon, there is an increased possibility of recurrent infection. Therefore, Yoga can provide the necessary tool for risk reduction, amelioration of stress and anxiety and strengthening of the immune function. The online platforms provide a good media for Yoga training at work places and homes. CONCLUSION: Due to social distancing norms, the availability of Yoga trainers has become restricted. Yoga practice is actively sought to achieve reduced anxiety and stress so that improved sleep may positively impact immunity. As a consequence, there is a spurt in social media, catering to daily online Yoga sessions which apparently prove useful in providing accessible means to achieve mental as well as physical well-being.

Coping strategies adapted by Ghanaians during the COVID-19 crisis and lockdown: A population-based study

“…This suggests that COVID-19-related stress might be high in our study population. Many stress coping strategies such as reading, talking to relatives/friends; physical exercise; following a healthy/balanced diet; drinking water to hydrate; following the news; other social media engagements; pursuing hobbies, listening to music, yoga, or gardening; relaxing or doing home chores have been reported to be helpful during crises [16][17][18][19][20]. However, it is argued that the effectiveness of these strategies may be context-specific [14,21].…”

An Impact of first COVID lockdown on physical and mental health along with the quality of life in Adults belonging to Maharashtra state

“…Mental health agencies and public health institutions are issuing practical recommendations for how to care for one's mental health and well-being. The American Psychiatric Association (NAMI, 2020), the National Alliance On Mental Illness (SAMHSA, 2020), and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (Sharma et al, 2020) all provide general advice to the public on how to plan their time and handle their mental health.…”

Role of Ayurveda and Yoga-Based lifestyle in the COVID-19 pandemic – A narrative review

“…Out of these 29 articles, 18 articles were on Yoga and COVID-19. Out of 18 articles, 9 were review articles discussing the role of yoga in the pandemic [ 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 , 27 ], 4 were letters to editor and short communications [ 28 , 29 , 30 , 31 ], 2 were research protocols of randomized controlled trials, first one to study the efficacy of online Sudarshan Kriya Yoga (SKY) for frontline hospital staff [ 32 ] and the other to examine the effect of meditation app on anxiety and wellbeing [ 33 ], 2 were cross-sectional observational studies [ 34 , 35 ], 2 articles were on cancer care during pandemic [ 36 , 37 ], 1 on modifications in tele-training and tele-assessment in alternative therapies for multiple sclerosis during COVID-19 pandemic [ 38 ]. Out of 18 articles, 3 articles exclusively focused on the role of yoga in elderly [ 25 , 29 , 30 ] and 2 were related to maternal health during the pandemic times [ 24 , 26 ].…”

“…Out of 18 articles, 3 articles exclusively focused on the role of yoga in elderly [ 25 , 29 , 30 ] and 2 were related to maternal health during the pandemic times [ 24 , 26 ]. Only 4 articles discussed specific yoga modules for COVID-19 [ 19 , 20 , 28 , 29 ].…”