
When individuals focus on themselves as a whole package (i.e., body, mind & soul) and not just one aspect (i.e., a body that needs to eat healthy and exercise or an intellectual that needs to produce more at a quicker pace; meanwhile neglecting the other two aspects), they gravitate towards more nourishing choices in life and organically step away from negative influences.
This is a win-win for not only the individual, but also for their friends, family and essentially for employers who pay their medical insurance. People become happier when a practice such as meditation is incorporated into their lives. Proof of this was reported by the meditation research pioneer of Harvard Medical School, Dr. Herbert Benson (Puff, 2013), when through his scientific studies he found that not only do people become happier, they become smarter, are able to treat physiological problems and autoimmune diseases, as well as help with obsessive thinking, anxiety, depression and hostility.
This results in more productivity in their personal life as well as at their work. As we move into the Aquarian Age (i.e., technology at the speed of light, more teachers, less followers, rapid response expectations) and away from the Piscean Age (i.e., age of industry, more followers, less teachers, staying at a job for entire career), there is more stress to perform and move faster and more push to work harder with less money. People’s number one stressor is job pressure, followed by money with 77% of people experiencing physical symptoms caused by stress (www.statisticbrain.com, 2015). People are feeling more stressed today than years ago (www.stress.org, nd) and their healthy relationships with their minds and bodies are mostly non-existent. Most people work unhealthy hours, don’t make time for exercise and spend too much time away from family, only to go home and watch TV during dinner (www.statisticbrain.com, 2016).
We are in the middle of a medical reform and no matter which president or party takes charge, there will still be increasing medical costs that fall on the hands of the employers to bear, meanwhile people will take less ownership of their health due to societal lifestyle choices that increase the lack of exercise and poor eating choices. A Corporate Wellness Plan that focuses on these three aspects (mind, body & soul) can address the rapidly increasing costs of medical on employers and the lack of ownership on the part of employees to make healthier lifestyle choices. By inviting in mindfulness practices, employees make better choices, which results in a healthier version of themselves, which directly impacts productivity.
One look at the President’s Council on Fitness, Sports & Nutrition, shows how bad as a country we are at health with, “More than 80% of adults not meeting the guidelines for both aerobic and muscle-strengthening activities,” and “over 78 million U.S. adults and 16.9% of children and adolescents being obese” (www.fitness.gov, nd). Companies are dropping full-time employees so they can save on medical costs or not pay them at all. I am sure if you are reading this, you know of a friend (or family member) that is going through this.
Why not be the change towards health that we so desperately need? Implement a wellness plan that focuses on all three aspects of our whole being and not just one or two. Start to see the benefits in yourself, your family, friends, co-workers and company and add your name to the companies that are also investing more in mindfulness programs to, “… boost productivity and lower stress” (Hitch, 2014) and to, “… boost the bottom line” (Goodman, 2013).
Do you like what you see and want to learn more? GREAT! Click on this link to check out a video featuring me, Charlotte, and find out what SPECIALS we have available..
~ Charlotte V.N.
References:
Goodman, P (2013). Huffington Post: Why Companies Are Turning to Meditation and Yoga to
Boost The Bottom Line. Retrieved on July 10, 2016 from
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/07/11/mindfulness-capitalism_n_3572952.html
Hitch, G (2014). Companies invest in mindfulness training to boost productivity and lower
stress. Retrieved on July 10, 2016 from
http://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/saturdayextra/mindfulness-at-work/5617546
President’s Council on Fitness, Sports & Nutrition. Retrieved on July 10, 2016 from
http://www.fitness.gov/resource-center/facts-and-statistics/
Puff, R. Ph.D (2013). Psychology Today: Meditation Will Make You Smarter (and Happier).
Retrieved on July 10, 2016 from https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/meditation-modern-life/201309/meditation-will-make-you-smarter-and-happier
Statistic Brain: Stress Statistics. Retrieved on July 10, 2016 from
http://www.statisticbrain.com/stress-statistics/
The American Institute of Stress: Stress is Killing You. Retrieved on July 10, 2016 from
http://www.stress.org/stress-is-killing-you/