Why wellness in the workplace matters

We spend one-third of our lives at work and the rest of the time trying to squeeze in seeing friends and family, hobbies and relaxing. When we are at work, we frequently face stress or anxiety or see it in others. It’s no surprise then, that wellness in the workplace is becoming a key area of focus for employers.

A recent mindbody study found that almost a quarter of UK survey respondents always felt stressed or anxious, with over three-quarters (78%) saying they had no corporate fitness or wellness scheme in place.

If businesses take workplace wellness seriously, we can all benefit. Yoga teacher Andy Kobelinsky said, “We all know that when we are healthy, we are more able to face challenges – and the working world is clearly waking up to this idea too. Many of the yogis who come to my classes, do so to help them cope with work stress. Yoga improves posture and breathing, boosts morale and shows you how to go with the flow.”

Below, mindbody explains three ways wellness can be incorporated in the workplace.

Flex your muscles, and your schedule
As well as optional incentives, internal policies and attitudes at work can promote health and wellbeing. Flexible and remote working options are popular, and perfect if you want to fit a workout or appointment into your morning, lunchtime or evening routine. It’s up to employers to offer this flexibility, and employees to make the most of it.

With convenience in mind, the MINDBODY app makes fitness, beauty and wellness more accessible by connecting you with local businesses. Whether it’s a midday mediation or a sweaty spin class you need, easy to use filters on the app let you search by trainer, location and class time. In as little as 30 minutes you could be booked in, done and back at your desk feeling energised and ready to go.

Five classes that fit into your lunch hour 
Exercise is known to have a positive impact on mental health and boost mood. With that in mind, we’ve found five sessions which fit into your lunch hour:

1. High intensityHIIT Pilates at Bootcamp Pilates, 30 minutes
2. Flow express at Yoga Hub, Dublin, 45 minutes
3. Workout of the day at SW3AT on demand, 15 minutes (visit the studio or join virtually)
4. Power yoga express at Tribe Yoga, Edinburgh
5. Stretch at Xtend Barre, 45 minutes

Make wellness work for you

Employers who cultivate a positive, healthy culture stand out from their competition. As millennials (set to make up 75% of the workforce by 2025) enter the world of work after education, it’s this culture they seek out. Research suggests younger generations are more motivated by work-life balance and achieving a sense of purpose than financial success or job security.

Weekly (free) on-site yoga classes, discounted services at local gyms or healthcare/holistic specialists, employee wellness challenges, these are just some of the ways companies can help employees feel well.  In addition to physical and mental health support, some companies offer financial support from childcare vouchers to stop smoking incentives. A happier, healthier workforce increases productivity, which in turn, boosts profits. Perks are also proven to attract, recruit and retain talent.

Mondbody partnered with Unwired’s Wellness 18 Conference in London, there were several key take outs from the event, but the main message being that workplace wellness programs need to include both online and offline elements to be successful. What’s more, there needs to be clear ways for employees to action wellness programs, alongside just information and education.