Workplace Yoga Can Reduce Sick Days

If you’re looking for a reason to join your weekly company yoga class, keep reading.

A recent study conducted by the Society of Occupational medicine has discovered that the ancient Indian practice has some very positive benefits for back problems.

The findings suggest that yoga programmes consisting of stretching, breathing, and relaxation methods can reduce sick days due to back pain and musculoskeletal conditions.

The study, which was conducted in three hospitals in North Wales randomly assigned staff to either a yoga group or education group.

The yoga group received a total of eight 60 minute yoga sessions once a week. They were also encouraged to practice at home for ten minutes a day for six months.

Meanwhile, the education group received two instructional booklets for how to manage back pain and reduce stress at work.

After six months, employee staff records showed that the yoga participants had 20 times less sick leave due to musculoskeletal conditions (including back pain) than the education group.

The education participants also visited health professionals for back pain twice as often as yoga participants during the six-month study.

Back pain is the single leading cause of disability in the world. In fact, absence from work due to back problems costs British employers more than £3 billion every year.

It’s clear that yoga isn’t only good for employees and employers, it’s also great for the economy. So, what are you waiting for? Grab a mat.


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Author Alice Murray

Alice Murray is a Content Creator at Jobbio with a passion for Employer Branding and Graduate Culture. She's a keen traveller and a self-proclaimed lazy runner.

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