Feeling frazzled with our new working, playing, life environment can take its toll on our heart health. A short, intention filled, break can offer significant health benefits. Those who are experiencing chronic work-related stress are at 50% higher risk for heart attacks according to researchers in Sydney, Australia. This group of researchers assessed the impact of just 15 mins of in-office (or today we could say in-home) yoga or meditation. While participants did either chair yoga, guided meditation or went about work as usual (with no excessive arm or leg movements), the researchers measured health variables such as perceived stress, blood pressure, respiration rate, and heart rate variability (HRV is a predictor of cardiac and overall health).

Compared with those who took no break, the yoga and meditation groups showed significant improvement in each of these variables. Chair yoga and meditation produced similar improvements in HRV, respiration and perceived stress, while meditation had a greater impact on blood pressure.

The research is in an it has been demonstrated in many studies that mindfulness, meditation, movement and laughter are some of the best tools we have access to and are relatively cost effective ways to manage our short and long term health. Laughter may not cure cancer or stop life threatening diseases but it can help us to mange stress and the effects of stress. Pull up a chair, lean in and try one of our recorded and or live virtual yoga experiences to lighten the load today. Our style of yoga is informed, but we encourage all levels of ability to join us to get started today with a easy, proven way to lower stress levels and feel better today. For a free trial class, email Denise at [email protected].