Better Together: Yoga and Meditation

We have previously discussed the idea that some things are better together. Two practices that may help you on both personal and professional levels are those of yoga and meditation. While you may consider these as strictly pertaining to personal enhancement, when you consider that they are both holistic approaches, you’ll see that they may provide benefits in your professional life as well. At commonfig, we believe that life should be considered holistically: your business practices have impact on your personal life, and vice versa. For this reason, we feel that holistic approaches to health, including the integration of practices known to increase self-awareness, such as yoga and meditation, should be considered as part of your weekly or, preferably, daily routine. What are some of the benefits of yoga and meditation? Here are a few:

• Improved concentration. When you take the time to slow down and listen to your breathing, you learn to concentrate more deeply, and to become more self-aware. This enhanced awareness may make you more productive in your business dealings, as well as in your personal life.
• Improved overall health. Each of these practices may improve blood flow to various areas of your body, can lower your blood pressure and might even boost your immunity. Better physical health results in more productivity and, indirectly, a more profitable bottom line.
• Stress relief. Both yoga and meditation can lower your breathing rate, temporarily slow down your heart rate and help you achieve a sense of peacefulness. This translates to a more serene you when it comes to both your personal and professional relationships. Imagine going through your day feeling at ease and without much of the stress that plagues you; chances are, you would be much more productive and more satisfied, overall.
• May resolve specific health conditions, at least temporarily. If you suffer from anxiety attacks, these practices can help you to calm down and grasp control of the situation. Headaches and muscle tension may lessen in response to the gentle stretching that accompanies yoga. There is even some evidence that holistic practices such as yoga and meditation may reduce the symptoms of premenstrual syndrome, insomnia and depression.

Better Together? When you combine a routine of yoga and meditation, you reap the benefits of both the physical workout of yoga and the mental conditioning of meditation. Because both are designed to be practiced in a quiet atmosphere and require no equipment, they are easy to do at the same time. Even if you don’t have much time to devote to your yoga and meditation routine, you can squeeze it into the “little minutes” of your day: Try focusing on deep breathing and holding a yoga pose or two for just a few minutes in between meeting with clients or making phone calls. Risks Although yoga and meditation have many benefits, we would be remiss to not mention that if you suffer from certain health conditions, yoga could pose a risk to your physical health. For this reason, it is always important to see a doctor before starting any workout routine, even one as gentle as yoga. Before trying advanced positions, you should also learn how to execute them properly; taking a class is a great way to learn more about the practice, as well as to make sure that you are performing the exercises correctly. Finally, don’t rely on yoga and meditation to cure you of any health problems; if you are ill or injured, see a physician, who can advise you accordingly. Taking care of yourself, both mentally and physically, is important for continued success in both your personal life and your business. Give yoga and meditation a try, and let us know if you notice a difference!