Michelle Maue | St. Louis Corporate Yoga

Take A Power Nap To Increase Energy

Do you feel tired and unmotivated in the afternoons? Wishing you could go home and sleep or go out and breathe fresh air to feel more energized? Trying to increase your alertness by drinking energy drinks or coffee? Oh, and isn’t that the time to get the candy bars out for a quick sugar rush?

You try very hard to avoid falling asleep when actually a short nap could be the solution to this afternoon energy dip.

When was the last time you napped? Taking a few minutes to enter the wonderful world of sleep? Maybe a nice siesta in the afternoon during your vacation?

Did you know that in Japan there are “nap salons” where people can take a short nap on daybeds before they return back to their workplaces? Sounds awesome, right?

Before we talk about “scientific” napping, let me ask you this: What do you think about people who nap? Do you approve? Or do you think that anybody who takes a nap time is just simply too lazy?

Why nap? When you lose concentration as your energy declines during the day, your body would like to get a few minutes to regenerate itself. Also, after having a heavy meal at lunch, your body needs all its energy for digestion so taking a few minutes to nap restores your energy so you can continue with your work.

The power nap is one of the most effective way to rejuvenate your brain power!

There are four main stages of your sleep cycle. The first two are relatively light sleep, while the third brings you into a deep slumber. The final stage known as rapid eye movement (REM) is where most of your dreams begin. The benefits of napping are tied to the length of time in which you are asleep.

During naps 10-20 minutes in length you only have time to enter the first two stages. Your brain begins memory consolidation, in which information you learn is processed. Waking out of these stages has shown benefits including; increased productivity, increased cognitive function, enhanced memory, boosted creativity and most importantly, feeling less tired.

Beyond 30 minutes you enter stage 3 which brings you into deeper sleep. You will experience sleep inertia when awakened in this stage. Because your body is coming out of a deep sleep, motor dexterity is decreased and you can feel grogginess up to 30 minutes.

If you experienced sleep inertia after a nap, you might falsely believe that naps are not good for you when in fact you just napped a bit too long.

If you manage to nap for 90 minutes, your body goes through a whole sleep cycle. It is perfect if you couldn’t get a full night’s sleep. A long nap can improve emotional memory and creativity.

Maybe it is not yet possible to take a power nap at your workplace although there are some forward thinking companies like Apple and Google where napping is allowed. Still you can take advantage of the benefits of a short nap during your vacation and the weekends.

Sitting Is Killing You Now

Sitting is silently killing you – It is true. We wrote about this 18 months ago on this blog already. Would you like to read our article? Here is the link.

Just a few days ago The Washington Post published an awesome article summarizing the different ways sitting is becoming one of the most dangerous thing we do every single day. Who would have thought that an activity we engage in for hours at the workplace and then at home in front of the computer or TV can wreck our lives so efficiently.

The infographic in the article shows in detail which part of our bodies suffer the most from sitting way too much.

One of the most shocking finding we read is the way sitting might actually lead to an overproductive pancreas and then to diabetes. Here is the quote:

“The pancreas produces insulin, a hormone that carries glucose to cells for energy. But cells in idle muscles don’t respond as readily to insulin, so the pancreas produces more and more, which can lead to diabetes and other diseases. A 2011 study found a decline in insulin response after just one day of prolonged sitting.”

Please view the whole infographic here: http://apps.washingtonpost.com/g/page/national/the-health-hazards-of-sitting/750/

You can also download it as a PDF. Print it out and keep it by your desk so you get a daily reminder why you must stand up and move to stay healthy!

For easy reminder we post here the part of The Washington Post infographic which gives you advice on how to deal with the consequences of too much sitting.

Practicing yoga is mentioned as an effective way to counteract the damage sitting is causing. The simple fact that you decide to use 1 (or more) lunch break to be in movement, stretching and moving those muscles will benefit you tremendously. We like to focus on poses beneficial to the hip flexors in our classes.

You can practice yoga during work hours without sweating or messing your clothes and hair up. After 50 minutes of calm inducing practice you will bale to return to your desk without any extra prep.

Would you like to hear what long time corporate student have to say about St. Louis Corporate Yoga classes? Pay attention to the wonderful benefits they enjoy as a result of yoga! Please watch our many testimonial videos!

What will you do today to cut back on sitting? Feel free to share in the Comments section!

Would you like to introduce yoga classes at your work place? Your solution is just one phone call away – call Michelle at 314-630-1677!

Make Vacation Time Real Relaxation Time

You have been waiting long for your vacation. Why do the first days always feel just like any other day of the year? Packing and traveling to your destination can be stressful.

Have you ever felt you only truly enjoy your vacation in the last few days? Feeling you lost so much time getting used to being on vacation that you missed out on all the fun and joy?

How to make every minute of your vacation count this year:

Begin your vacation before you travel. Prepare mentally for your time away. Check out your destination on Google Maps. Read reports about your destination from fellow travelers on TripAdvisor.
Get a realistic picture of your destination. Even the occasional negative review will help you a lot. At least you know what to prepare for. If you find a common theme in those evaluation of, say, medical and health supply items being overpriced or simply not available, you can bring your own. Less frustration – more joy!
Don’t overplan. What good does it do to be on vacation when all your days are planned minute by minute exactly like at home? Give yourself total free time. Free from “musts” and “shoulds”. Check out all available entertaining options if you want but restrain yourself from filling your every minute with sight-seeing trips, museum visits and other things travelers supposed to do at the travel location.
If you have the chance, plan on having a day between work and vacation so you can pack without stress and take care of small chores before you hit the road.
Give yourself 3 days to get used to your vacation location. The different climate, food or customs will take some time to get used to. It is unrealistic to expect that you will feel totally at home the minute you arrive!
Decrease your expectations. Most of the times we look at the vacation time to solve all our relationship issues. In fact, statistics say that families argue more than usual when away. Why? All the routine programming that makes life easier at home is gone. Plus they spend more time together in one day than in a week back home. So automatically there is a bigger chance of conflict.
Gift yourself with time alone. Of course it is wonderful to spend so much time with your friends or family. Don’t forget about your own needs, though. Enjoy time alone at the beach, get up earlier for a morning run or book a massage session for yourself.
Do nothing, just be. Give yourself the gift of a “Do nothing” day. Sleep as much you feel like, eat when you feel like, read a book in a day, jump into the pool, daydream…. Without checking the time once. Be in a flow of life, just be!
Do some yoga if you feel like it. As inspiration, below is a yoga video Michelle made at her last Grenada yoga teacher training.

Wishing you the vacation of a lifetime!

Isometric Exercises For The Office

Most of the companies offering corporate yoga classes for their employees present 1 or 2 yoga classes during the week. What if you wanted to include more movement and exercise into your workday?

After experiencing the wonderful benefits of yoga and movement during the busy workday, many students ask what other exercise they could practice at the office. Doing isometric exercises at your desk might be the solution.

What is an isometric exercise? According to Wikipedia “isometric exercise is a strength training in which the joint angle and muscle length do not change during contraction. Isometrics are done in static positions, rather than being dynamic through a range of motion.”

Even if you weren’t aware of this, you are already doing isometric exercises during a yoga class. A static hold during performing an asana is the type of exercise we mean.

Isometric exercises are used to prevent muscle atrophy in a limb that has been immobilized by a cast following a fracture and to fight the disuse syndrome experienced by astronauts as a result of living in a zero gravity environment. Also these exercises are used in rehabilitation after muscle and joint conditions.

One simple example: holding a glass of water in your outstretched hand. After a few minutes, this really simple and easy exercise will get your muscles tremble with exhaustion.

Why are isometric exercises a great choice for the office? Mostly you use your own body weight as resistance. Also, these exercises don’t need full range movement as they are static. Basically most of these exercises you can practice at your desk and nobody will notice you practicing.

We have found an entertaining article listing isometric exercises for every major muscle group: “Deskercise! 33 Smart Ways to Exercise at Work”.

Here are a few of the hilarious exercises for a short workout at your desk. We selected them from the article mentioned for a full workout in a few minutes time:

“The Silent Seat Squeeze: Believe it or not, some deskercises can be kept under wraps, and this isometric glutes exercise is one of them. To start toning, simply squeeze the buttocks, hold for 5-10 seconds, and release. Repeat until the agenda wraps up or the glutes tire. The results will be uplifting in more ways than one.

The Grim Reamer: Scope out the office for a ream of paper, or a sealed package of printing paper. While seated, place the stack in between the knees and press legs inward, engaging the inner thighs. Continue squeezing the paper ream in place for 30-60 seconds while sorting through the morning’s flood of emails. (Now that’s multitasking!)

The Namaste: Whether you’re praying for a project extension or for more defined arms, this move has you covered. Seated upright with feet flat on the floor, bring the palms together in front of the chest and push both hands together powerfully until you feel the arm muscles contract. Hold the prayer hands pushed together for 20 seconds. Release and repeat the sequence until you feel a little more zen.

The Nape Shaper: Turtleneck season is over—it’s time to tone that neck! For the first isometric neck strengthening trick, put your head in your hands as if exasperated by the workday (you may already be in this position), and press your palms into your forehead as if trying to push the head backward. Resist the motion by engaging the neck muscles. Next, clasp the hands behind the back of the head and try to push the head backward, resisting the motion with your hands. Hold each deskercise for 5 seconds, or until The Evolution of Ryan Gosling has finally loaded. Slowly release, rest, and repeat 5 times each.

The Fab Abs Squeeze: Another silent deskercise, this one can be covertly executed when walking down the hall or seated during a call. Simply take a deep breath and tighten the abdominal muscles, bringing them in towards the spine as you exhale. Stay squeezed for 5-10 seconds and release. Repeat for 12-15 reps.

The “Crunch Time” Crunch: The deadlines are looming, as are hopes for a six-pack by summer. (And maybe a six-pack of Corona, too.) While most jobs don’t condone in-office boozing, you can get the other six-pack with some seated isometric crunches. With both elbows on the thighs, try to curl the chest in towards the legs while resisting the movement with the arms. Hold for 10 seconds, release, and repeat times 10.”

Please read the whole article to get more exercise ideas… and to check out the hilarious titles and descriptions of those moves.

Although isometric exercises look totally harmless, there is fair warning if you suffer from high blood pressure:

“Isometric exercises can raise blood pressure significantly for the duration of the exercise. While it will return to a resting level soon after, this can be dangerous for people with hypertension or any form of cardiovascular disease. Even if you don’t suffer from high blood pressure it is important to breath continuously throughout the exercises. Breath holding will only compound any increases in blood pressure.” http://www.sport-fitness-advisor.com/isometric-exercises.html

Have fun exercising at your desk! Every bit of movement counts toward a healthier lifestyle!

“Best Of” from Clayton Yoga Blog

Did you know that St. Louis Corporate Yoga is part of Clayton Yoga? We share many great articles over at our Clayton Yoga blog and created a “best of list” of interesting posts that could be of interest for you!

1. How To Protect Yourself From Contagious Stress?

Do you suffer from second hand stress? If you feel stressed even if you have not much to complain about, you might react to other people’s negative emotions – absorbing the bad energy and suffering from the consequences… especially if you are highly intuitive.

How can you possibly protect yourself from contagious stress? Read more here: http://claytonyoga.com/how-to-protect-yourself-from-contagious-stress/

2. Six Situations That Might Disturb Your Fellow Yogis

There are a few things that drive even the most peaceful yogi crazy during yoga class. Especially if you are a beginner student and have limited class experience, please read about the 6 situations you need to mindful of. Continue reading at: http://claytonyoga.com/6-situations-that-might-disturb-your-fellow-yogis/

3. Worrying About These Things During Yoga Class?

One of the major reasons we take up yoga is to relieve stress in our lives. To manage constant worry and tension building up inside. The last thing you want to do is add more worry and stress to life. But sometimes it does happen! You go to a class and succumb to thoughts that stress you out.

Now these worrying thoughts might have nothing to do with reality. Still it might get you anxious and not being able to concentrate during your class. Explore those stressful thoughts here: http://claytonyoga.com/worrying-about-these-things-during-yoga-class/

4. Your Yoga Class As Your Creative Sanctuary

Create new, experience and enjoy your being to the full – isn’t this why we are here? It is so easy to forget about the joy creation brings us in the gray days of everyday life.

The good news is that the ability to create is an inherent talent we all have. Being creative is natural and not something we need to learn. We just need to remember!

Why don’t you use the next yoga class to explore your creativity? http://claytonyoga.com/your-creative-sanctuary-your-yoga-class/

5. Got Peace?

One of the best definitions of peace is to discover that it is not in a place where there is no trouble, hard work or noise. But to be in the midst of those things and still be calm in your heart. One of the most healing things we can do for our life, is to create a spiritual connection.

Our spiritual practice reminds us to be still and let go of fearful emotions and negative thinking. How we can develop greater clarity is to read and follow the “25 Helpful Personal Bill of Rights” steps below.

Disvover your Personal Bill of Rights at http://claytonyoga.com/got-peace/

Please feel free to visit our yoga studio (4 South Central Avenue, Suite #2, Clayton) anytime. You can find the up-to-date class schedule on our site.

Did you know that we offer special yoga classes just for men? Lisa and Bretta welcome men to their fun all level yoga class Thursdays at 6.30pm!

5 Minute Breathing at the Office

There are many benefits associated with taking five minutes at the office place to breathe deeply. Let’s explore the topic of breathing a bit further in the office environment. When we take our breath for granted, most of us as adults tend to breath shallow.

There are many negative side effects to short, shallow upper chest breathing. Our body interprets this kind of breathing for one foot on the gas and one foot on the brakes. When we do not breathe correctly, we tend to have more dominant, intrusive, fearful thoughts. Simply put, we think too much and become anxious, irritable or depressed. No wonder modern life is still trying to catch up with nature. Computers and globalization still leave us all feeling as if we are wanting something more…

Did you know? We are breathed correctly as babies!

The importance of utilizing proper breathing not only provides us with oxygen, one of our primary nutrients for all metabolic function. It also allows us to activate the cleansing process in the alveolar sacs which exchange oxygen for carbon dioxide. Each day alone, we get 22,000 breaths and if we placed all the alveolar sacs together: they would take up the size of over half a tennis court. Just by comparison, our skin or largest sensory organ is only 3 square feet by 3 square feet. What a difference!

We had this perfect yogic breath when we were babies! Our whole body expanded as we breathed on an inhale and softened as we exhaled. According to yoga, we are not quite sure why we began breathing incorrectly. Maybe it is our tendency to look outside too much. We do know that we during the course of reaching adulthood, most of us lost have lost the art of deep breathing.

Parasympathetic Nervous System

Using our primary muscles of breathing, we inhale, expanding the abdomen, allowing the diaphragm to release, the lung tissue to expand and the deep, rich oxygenated breaths to flow. The diaphragm muscle has been associated with courage. In yoga, we understand that as a living healthy organism, we must undergo change in order to remain healthy. When we stay connected to our breath, we let life unfold without attaching to results. We circulate the body with life force energy and wire our brain to stay calm, confident and centered right in the center of change.

From the first breath, we feel lighter, more at ease, more connected to our natural vitality and joy. As we exhale, we allow the belly to soften; the diaphragm will lift up back under the heart and push air out of the lungs. Placing our focus on the breath, we practice meditation, we let things fall apart and we stay centered.

The way you know your yoga is progressing is your ability to take on more stress with less effort. True mastery is really living your everyday life sweetly.

For more information on how to train your employees on how to breathe or to bring corporate onsite yoga to your workplace, please contact, Michelle, at 314-630-1677. Let us help you design a special program for your organization’s unique needs today.

Strawberry Times At The Office

Let’s think luscious red today! From time to time we love to mix up the topics we write about in this blog. Now that it is officially summertime, let’s talk about strawberries.

Do you get your daily 5 servings of veggies or fruit? For most of us this is clearly a challenge! Many times we just blame it on not having time or the energy for healthy eating. It is just so much easier to pick up some fast food or order in.

What if there are easy and quick ways to add some berries to your diet this summer? Fast food a’ la strawberries! Prepare these meals at home, take to the office and you never have to compromise for unhealthy fare – at least not during the berry season.

Strawberries – plain and simple

Clean 1-2 pounds of strawberries at home. No, you don’t need sugar on top! Enjoy the natural flavor of a strawberry, they are just heavenly! Cut them up or leave them whole – it is easy to transport those berries to the office. If you packed too much of the good thing… I am sure your co-workers will be happy to enjoy this summer treat with you!

Did you know that you can add vinegar to the water when you wash those berries? Let it sit for a few minutes to work its wonders. Vinegar will help get rid of dirt and fights harmful bacteria in the process. Rinse well afterwards!

Strawberry salad

Clean and thinly slice the strawberries. Sprinkle them with extra virgin olive oil, fresh grounded pepper and some pink salt! Yes, you will love this salad! Even if you feel that peppers and strawberries don’t go well together – they are a match made in heaven. Add a few leaves of green salad if you would like to create a full salad and you have lunch ready to go.

Strawberry Soup with Cinnamon Croutons

Craving a filling soup for lunch? Here is a heavenly recipe from www.TasteOfHome.com with a prep time of only 15 minutes!

Ingredients

1 quart strawberries, halved
2 cups apple juice
1 cup (8 ounces) sour cream
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup honey
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1-1/2 cups half-and-half cream
3 tablespoons orange juice, optional
CINNAMON-SUGAR CROUTONS:
3 slices white bread, crusts removed and cubed
2 tablespoons butter
1 teaspoon cinnamon-sugar

Directions

In a large bowl, combine the first six ingredients. Place half of the mixture in a blender; cover and process until pureed. Transfer to a large bowl. Repeat with the remaining strawberry mixture.
Stir in cream and orange juice if desired. Cover and refrigerate for 2 hours.
Meanwhile, in a small skillet over medium heat, saute bread cubes in butter until golden brown. Remove from the heat. Sprinkle with cinnamon-sugar; toss to coat. Cool. Stir soup before serving; garnish with croutons. Yield: 6 servings.

This recipe is from TasteOfHome.com http://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/smooth-strawberry-soup Check out the site for more awesome recipes from the best home cooks of the nation!

Strawberry in chocolate – perfect for those low-energy afternoons

Clean the strawberries as usual. For this lovely treat it is best to use large strawberries – don’t cut them up! The other ingredient you will need is a good quality dark chocolate bar. Break it up into small pieces and melt the chocolate slowly in a glass bowl over a hot-water bath. (Do you need tips on melting chocolate? You can find them here: http://candy.about.com/od/workingwithchocolate/a/meltchocolate.htm)

Dip the strawberries one by one into the melted chocolate. You don’t want to cover the whole strawberry with chocolate, though – this will save on some calories plus it makes it easier to eat the chocolate covered strawberries in the office.

Place the berries on a baking sheet and either wait until the chocolate gets firm or place it in the fridge/freezer to save some time. If there is any remaining… take them with you to the office!

Enjoy these strawberry treats for a healthy lunch or as a snack. They are even light enough to eat after your corporate yoga class!

Unexpected Cause of Work Place Stress?

Work stress – what do you think about when you hear this term? Most probably you mention ever increasing workloads, difficult co-workers, challenging bosses and managers. Oh, and how can we forget about the everyday commute back and forth? Decreasing demand for the company’s products and services, mergers and acquisitions add to the list. No wonder that work stress is mentioned most frequently among stress factors in life.

There is one unexpected stress factor you may not have considered yet. It isn’t the people or your salary – according to one study – but where you sit that results in whether or not you feel stressed out at work. Interesting!

Studies have shown the correlation between workspace and stress levels. One study proved that private offices resulted in less stress than open space offices where workers have cubicles they call their own.

In an open space it is easy to get stressed because you might feel being watched the whole day and you never have a moment of down time. Increased noise can cause stress because all the distraction it brings. Many people feel stressed when they’re trying to work and are exposed to chatter in the background.

Sitting in an office where you’re exposed to a hot window or the blast of a too-cold air conditioner pointed at you? None of these situation will help you have a balanced, stress-free day!

Now take a minute and look around your work space. Where do you sit? What about your surroundings? How is the temperature? The noise level? How does this place make you feel? What would you think when you visited your own office space? What would you think about the person who works there? Do you like your desk, your cubicle or office?

Do you feel less than happy with your work space? Here are a few tips to make your office space less daunting!

First, consider how you can fix things yourself. How about adding a little personalization? Add family photos, a green plant or flowers, and some knick knacks that make you feel like the space is less sterile.

Now if your work area actually killing your productivity, you might need to discuss this with the management. Too much noise, inadequate air flow, less than appropriate lightning will make you less effective in your job! Talk to your boss about the loss of productivity you suffer and he/she might be able to find a better space for you – sometimes you just need to ask!

If the area where you work is dimly lit, you can bring your own lighting or ask for a place by the windows. Consider adding some of your favorite colors to the work area.

If you’re in a position where you’re overwhelmed with aromas like popcorn cooking in the break room or a co-worker’s strong perfume, then bring a diffuser of your favorite essential oils to work to give you some much needed stress relief via aromatherapy.

Take proactive action to create a better work environment for yourself!

Aromatherapy To Lessen Stress

Workplace stress is one of the major stress factors nowadays. It begins in the morning when you dread going to work and never stops till the evening when you are worn out or even feel burned out from spending your time at the office. How sad is this? To be under stress every day with seeing no way out!

What to do when the typical stress advice doesn’t work anymore? When you feel stressed even in a job you love? Even if you close the door to your office to minimize distraction? When reading all the tips you can find online still doesn’t help you get a few stress free minutes per day?

There are some out-of-the-box thinking and practices to manage stress. Here is a great example where aromatherapy was used to help employees decrease their stress levels and increase their job satisfaction.

One recent study has shown that workers in one of the most stressful careers are successfully using aromatherapy at work to deal with their stress.

Imagine working in the cancer treatment field. Each day you’re dealing with life altering situations, where some patients die and you’re dealing with their stress on a day-to-day, hour-by-hour basis. Secondhand stress itself is something that affects us, too.

At the Oncology Nursing Society 39^th Annual Congress, a study was presented that showed nurses dealing with cancer patients were able to improve their own health and job performance using aroma diffusers in the office.

This career is one that suffers high turnover. The emotional impact of the job – as well as high demands placed on the workers – causes extreme burnout, so they often quit.

The James Cancer Hospital in Columbus, Ohio conducted the study – using diffusers to dispense essential oils over a 6-week timespan. They strategically placed them at a main nursing station.

They conducted before and after studies of workplace stress and measured four things: worry, demands, tension and lack of joy. Everything improved except lack of joy, but according to the study, that happened to coincide with an unusual number of patient deaths, so that’s understandable – because these nurses are caretakers of their patients.

Do you suffer from workplace stress? Why not try aromatherapy? You might seek out calming scents and invest in a diffuser or other aromatherapy method that won’t interfere with those around you. It could help you see your job in a whole new light.

Here is a detailed article about calming aromatherapy scents: http://stress.about.com/od/generaltechniques/a/aromatherapy_b.htm

The most important calming scents are lavender, rosemary, peppermint, lemon and ylang-ylang. Of course always ask your colleagues if they enjoy the scents, too. Some people have hard time tolerating some scents even if you personally love them. If they are allergic to a scent, your colleagues can get severe headaches and feel sick. So be mindful that you are not adding extra stress to your co-workers life!

Is Stress as Contagious as a Yawn?

Have you ever seen someone yawn in front of you and instantly felt the need to yawn as well? Have you ever seen a yawn go viral during a boring meeting?

According to new research stress can be as contagious as a yawn. Stress is something we can’t see or hear (like we can a yawn), but it’s something that’s every bit as contagious. Who would have thought that?

Researchers from the Max Planck Institute for Cognitive and Brain Sciences and the Technische Universitat Dresden discovered that not only can someone else’s stress seep into your world if you’re in close contact with them, but even watching stress unfold on TV can wreak havoc in your world.

It’s called empathetic stress, and even though you might not know or care about the people on TV, your mind is capable of empathizing with the characters. It is truly amazing how we can get involved with those stories we watch on TV!

Scientists were able to measure the stress hormone cortisol that freely flooded the bodies of those who were around someone else’s stress – even though they, themselves weren’t put into a stressful situation.

During the study, 95% of those confronted with stress experienced higher cortisol levels. But almost 30% of bystanders who were strangers did, too! The number jumps when the stress involves someone you love. If someone close to you is under stress, then you’re 40% more likely to stress out yourself.

How many times do we get involved in stressful situations at work? During demanding meetings, managing an important team project or working through mergers – we are experiencing stressful situations unfold every day.

Even if you are not part of the stressful situation, experiencing the stress your co-workers and managers go through seems to be enough to stress you out!

Affected by contagious stress? Here is what to do:

Give up on the idea that you can “fix” stressful situations your co-workers are experiencing. When requested, it’s okay to offer advice or your help. It is best to learn how to create an invisible barrier around yourself so that you are buffered from other peoples’ stress.

Does this mean that you are a mean person? Just because you refuse being influenced by contagious stress doesn’t mean you don’t have empathy! Don’t let yourself get mired in trying to make it all better for your colleagues. If you want to, let your co-workers know that you’re there to lend an ear or a shoulder if needed.

If you’re noticing that your stress levels are too high, it’s time to decrease your exposure to outside influences. Stop watching TV all the time, refuse to listen to negative programs on any media and consciously limit your exposure to negative people in real life and on social media.

The calm and relaxed atmosphere we create during a corporate yoga class can be positively contagious, too. Why not give yoga a try at your organization? Call us at 314-630-1677 so we can bring our contagious “stress-less” practices to your company soon!