Meditation and Yoga - The Research
A study by Walach et al. (2007) found that introducing mindfulness exercises to workplace environments can support staff to manage stress and assist staff to feel more in control at work
Kabat-Zinn (1982) found that a regular mindfulness practice can significantly support stress reduction.
Research by Fredrickson, Cohn, Coffey, Pek & Finkel (2008) found that meditation has been shown to improve workplace relationships, mindfulness, sense of meaning, attention and thinking, as well as reduce physical and mental illness.
Research by Lomas et al. (2014) found that mindfulness meditation can support individuals to manage emotions, a resource that is associated with heightened engagement.
Hartfiel, Havenhand, Khalsa, Clarke & Krayer (2011) found that offering yoga classes to employees can help them to improve their mood, energy, clear-headedness, confidence and resilience to stress.
Hefferon and Mutrie (2012) found that yoga classes can provide employees with an opportunity for physical exercise which can enhance positive emotions, promote wellbeing and protect against stress.
Research by Baicker, Cutler & Song (2010) shows that workplace well-being programmes contribute to reduced turnover costs and reduced absenteeism, meaning a high return on investment and significant savings overall.
References
Baicker, K., Cutler, D. and Song, Z. (2010). Workplace wellness programs can generate savings. Health Affairs, 29 (2), doi: 10.1377/hlthaff.2009.0626
Fredrickson, B. L., Cohn, M. A., Coffey, K. A., Pek, J. and Finkel, S. M. (2008). Open hearts build lives: Positive emotions, induced through loving-kindess meditation, build consequential personal resources. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 95 (5), 1045-1062.
Hartfiel, N., Havenhand, J., Khalsa, S. B., Clarke, G., Krayer, A. (2011) The effectiveness of yoga for the improvement of well-being and resilience to stress in the workplace. Scand J Work Environ Health, 37(1), 70–76.
Hefferon, K., & Mutrie, N. (2012). Physical activity as a ‘stellar’ positive psychology intervention. In E.O. Acevedo (Ed.), The Oxford Handbook of Exercise Psychology (pp.117-130). Oxford and New York: Oxford University Press.
Kabat-Zinn, J. (1982) An out-patient program in Behavioral Medicine for chronic pain patients based on the practice of mindfulness meditation: Theoretical considerations and preliminary results. General Hospital Psychiatry, 4, 33-47.
Lomas, T., Hefferon, K., & Ivtzan, I. (2014). Applied positive psychology. London, England: Sage.
Walach, H. Nord, E., Zier, C., Dietz-Waschkowski, B., Kersig, S. and Schupbach, H. (2007). Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction as a Method for Personnel Development: A Pilot Evaluation. International Journal of Stress Management, 14 (2), 188-198.