The Business Casual Yogi by Vish Chatterji & Yogrishi Vishvketu

Author:Vish Chatterji & Yogrishi Vishvketu
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Mandala Publishing
Published: 2019-10-14T16:00:00+00:00

RELAXING FOR BALANCE

We can safely say that we live in some of the busiest times ever known! Our grandparents probably thought the same thing. It seems no matter the time period, the idea of being overly busy is a theme in our Western world. In some cultures, higher value is still placed on relaxation. In Spain, an afternoon siesta is still the norm, even in business culture. North Americans, on the other hand, frown upon any kind of nap. In that type of culture, especially in fast-paced work environments, we have to pay special attention to relaxing intermittently rather than waiting until we can go no further.

I once had a stellar employee who was one of the hardest-working people in the company. Justin would often stay at work late and was always willing to go the extra mile to complete an assignment. He had one unique quirk, though: He insisted on a twenty-minute nap every afternoon. His being European and myself being a yogi in disguise, I thought nothing of this, and I was fine with him napping right at his desk. He even cut out a square of gray foam padding and emblazoned the words “nap pad” in black marker. But one day, someone from human resources wandered by and noticed my sleeping team member. The idea of relaxing seemed just preposterous! After getting over her shock, she wrote him up. Numerous meetings ensued to discuss this serious transgression, and Justin’s perfect record was tarnished. Eventually, after escalating it up the chain of command and justifying Justin’s exemplary performance, we finally got special dispensation for this “unusual behavior.”

Research now proves Justin’s theory that a midafternoon nap can be an excellent productivity boost, improving focus and efficiency, reducing stress, and cutting down on errors. Even as little as a six-minute nap has been shown to improve memory recall.5 It is still, however, antithetical to our culture to use relaxation as a tool for productivity. If we do indulge in something relaxing, it is only after we justify how hard we worked. And if we happen to be caught, we rush to prove our innocence! Even in Western yoga classes, the central relaxation element is often pushed aside. After all the “jumping and pumping,” as Vishvketu describes the typical gymnastics-style class, the instructor often doesn’t prioritize the final relaxation that is an essential part of yoga practice. A yoga teacher friend once proudly told me the style of yoga she teaches doesn’t need the relaxation part. But after she took a class from me, and I took her through a true relaxation, it became her favorite part.

Building regular activities into your life that relax and rejuvenate you will help center you on your journey. Shoot for ten to twenty minutes of real relaxation per day. You might add simple techniques into your office routine such as the breathing exercises we’ll discuss in Chapter 8. You might go for a stroll in a park during lunch or schedule a regular massage appointment or spa treatment.

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