Managers prioritize wellness in the workplace in response to Hong Kong’s stress epidemic
The city’s leading corporates turn to yoga to reduce stress, sleep issues, and sick days
Recognising the need to address employee wellbeing, Hong Kong businesses are introducing yoga to the office. Last year, Hong Kong ranked the 5th most stressed city in the world, with minimal support from employers to manage stress. But since the launch of its corporate wellness arm, Inspire Yoga has noticed an uptick in organisations adopting creative measures to tackle employee stress and anxiety.
Yoga promotes a host of benefits to stressed-out professionals: increased energy and reduced fatigue, improved concentration and focus, fewer physical aches and pains, and improved mental health. But given Hong Kong’s frenetic work culture, employees don’t always have the time, energy, or confidence to consider the practice. Predominantly leading sedentary lifestyles, they may feel self-conscious or uncomfortable in a crowded studio class.
Progressive businesses are now turning to Inspire Yoga, the pioneer onsite provider of yoga and meditation programs in Hong Kong, to bring the practice directly to employees. Some of our main clients to date include HSBC, Citi, PwC and HKU.
Combining practical techniques with theoretic explanations, employees are empowered to develop a long-term beneficial practice. Energy is at the heart of understanding the relationship between mind and matter, with these scientific paradigms there is more corporate buy in to invest in regular practices of mindfulness and meditation to release the psychosomatic effects of stress and occupational tension. With a happier and healthier workforce higher job satisfaction and productivity levels are first to increase corporate earnings. The benefits are extending beyond the workplace, says Neelam Harjani, founder of Inspire Yoga.
“Research proves that employee satisfaction affects client relations. Employees are the frontline representing the firm and customer experience. Stressed, sick, and sleep-deprived, they’re unable to bring their best selves to the workforce and their clients. Ensuring inner balance and mindfulness through yoga is a sound business decision. We’re hearing that employees are healthier, happier, more loyal, and more productive. In the long run, this benefits a business’s reputation and profitability.”
About Inspire Yoga
Inspire Yoga is the pioneer onsite provider of yoga and meditation programs in Hong Kong. Passionate to share its holistic system of mind-body science by providing individual restorative solutions for stress management, chronic pain, fatigue, back pain, low immunity, joint stiffness and poor sleep quality. Adopting a personalized approach, programs are curated to serve the objectives of clients by balancing yoga postures, breathing techniques, and mindfulness training held at home on a one-to-one basis and in the office through workshops and seminars for corporate clients. With a team of 25 instructors, Inspire Yoga has empowered individuals and corporates with the tools for optimal health and wellbeing since 2010.
