by Jane Sandwood
The average Canadian full-time employee is absent from work 8.9 days per year according to research conducted by the Health Association of Nova Scotia. While absenteeism can lead to decreased overall productivity in the office as well as diminished profits, the well being of the employee should remain a top priority. After being absent from work for an extended period of time due to injury, illness or surgery it can be both physically and mentally harrowing to return to your place of work. Thanks to the immense holistic benefits of yoga, it is becoming increasingly easier for employees to regain their physical strength and mental focus, allowing them to resume their duties with new-found vigor and determination. Depending on the severity of your illness/injury, there are a number of ways you can employ yoga to speed up the healing process. It is also imperative that you check with your doctor prior to engaging in any exercise post-surgery or illness.
Yoga can help you recover from injury
Even after you have recovered well enough from your injury to return to work, you may still be faced with mobility issues and pain/stiffness that can be exacerbated by standing (or sitting down) for long periods of time. If you experience severe pain or discomfort, even gentle exercise like yoga may seem daunting. Engaging in gentle poses can, however, speed up your recovery process significantly, enabling you to return to work sooner. According to studies published in the Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, yoga can improve both strength and flexibility, aiding in post-surgery and traumatic injury recovery. Yoga therapy, when offered by a certified yoga therapist, can be of great benefit in injury recovery according to officials at the Maryland University of Integrative Health in the USA. These therapists can design a tailor-made yoga program to address your specific problem areas brought on by your injury which will strengthen your muscles and your mind, making the transition back into a working environment a lot easier.
Yoga can facilitate faster recuperation
Engaging in restorative while you are recovering from illness forces both your body and mind to slow down and fully relax. As you relax, your heart rate and your cortisol levels drop considerably, creating optimal conditions for healing. Yoga can facilitate healing for a wide range of illnesses and surgeries ranging from pneumonia and meningitis to hernia repairs, cosmetic procedures, and even cancer. According to the Journal of Clinical Oncology, a controlled trial in women with breast cancer found that yoga can have significant benefits for breast cancer patients undergoing radiotherapy. Apart from the physical benefits yoga can have for someone returning to work after illness, it can also boost your coping skills, helping you deal with your illness and subsequent return to work better.
Whether you have been absent from work for a week or a month, engaging in gentle yoga poses can help make your transition back into employment much less frightening. Once your doctor has given you the go-ahead to resume exercise, you can ease your way into a yoga regime under the guidance of a qualified yoga instructor who will help you regain your strength in a natural, non-invasive way.