National Yoga Awareness Month
September is National Yoga Awareness Month, a time to recognize the physical and mental benefits of yoga. This month is the perfect opportunity to explore how yoga can enhance your overall wellbeing. Did you know that many employers are now making it easier for employees to engage in wellness activities like yoga through Lifestyle Spending Accounts (LSAs)?
Benefits of Yoga
Improves flexibility and strength. Yoga improves flexibility, strength and balance through a variety of poses. Regular practice can lead to enhancing flexibility and building muscle strength.
Reduces stress. As an important part of any yoga practice, breathwork exercises (pranayama) help reduce cortisol levels and reduce stress. One study found that in a three-month yoga retreat participants had reduced levels of inflammation and stress in the body (1).
Cardiovascular benefits. Some research has shown that yoga lowers blood pressure. Yoga is included in many cardiac rehabilitation programs due to its cardiovascular benefits (2).
Enhances mental clarity. By encouraging mental focus and mindfulness, yoga can improve cognitive function. Studies using MRI have shown that people who regularly practice yoga have thicker cerebral cortex and hippocampi compared to nonpractitioners (3).
Boost productivity. Yoga not only shows an increase in wellbeing and decrease in stress, but also improves levels of productivity. One study showed that yoga can raise energy levels and helps remove unhelpful thoughts and information from your mind (4).
Empowering Wellness with Lifestyle Spending Accounts
While the benefits of yoga are clear, the costs associated with yoga memberships can be an obstacle. This is where Lifestyle Spending Accounts (LSAs) come into play, giving employers a flexible and supportive solution for employees seeking to enhance their wellbeing. LSAs provide employees with flexible allowance to spend on a variety of wellness activities and services, including yoga classes, fitness memberships, and other wellness-related expenses not covered by traditional spending accounts.
By offering flexibility and choice, LSAs can enhance employee job satisfaction and promote a more dynamic and inclusive workplace environment. Consider implementing an LSA in your organization to provide a valuable, customizable perk that truly benefits your employees.
Learn more about LSAs and how they can empower employee wellbeing. https://www.wtwco.com/en-us/solutions/services/lifestyle-spending-account-lsa
Sources:
LeWine Howard. “Yoga could slow the harmful effects of stress and inflammation”. Harvard Health Publishing, 10 Aug. 2020, https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/yoga-could-slow-the-harmful-effects-of-stress-and-inflammation-2017101912588
LeWine Howard. “Yoga benefits beyond the mat”. Harvard Health Publishing, 22 Jul. 2024, https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/yoga-benefits-beyond-the-mat
“Yoga for better mental health”, Harvard Health Publishing, 29 Apr. 2024, https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/yoga-for-better-mental-health
Smith Laura, “17 Health Benefits of Yoga: Backed by Science”, The Good Body, 17 Jul. 2023, https://www.thegoodbody.com/yoga-benefits/