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Downtown Durango in the Smiley Building 1309 East Third Avenue First Floor, Room 10 donna@desertnomadyoga.com |
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Desert Nomad Yoga |
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Wellness Programs |
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Give employees a benefit they really appreciate and that really benefits you and your company. Desert Nomad Yoga’s (DNY) Wellness Programs help businesses and individuals improve their health, increase productivity, focus and improve retention through diet, nutrition, exercise and yoga. Studies show that wellness programs are not only beneficial from a healthcare costs perspective but that they actually can help individuals & businesses thrive. And, employees love them! They make employees feel valued and some people actually gravitate towards a job just because they’ve heard about a company offering these types of benefits. Today, just about everyone should have a wellness program, either self-designed or with the help of professionals. Consider the following statistics: · In 2005, the U.S. spent $2 trillion on health care, at $6,683 per person, and employers paid more than one-third of that cost · The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimate that 50% of today’s health care costs are attributable to health risks that can be modified by lifestyle behaviors such as diet and activity.* · Not being physically active costs an employer $1900 annually. In addition, employers must pay for a decrease in productivity, higher health care costs and absenteeism.** |
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Can Desert Nomad Yoga really help? Definitely and the list of those who agree continue to grow. Imagine walking into an early morning meeting with the CIO of one the largest investment management companies and finding him rolling up a sticky mat. As you stand perplexed in the doorway, he looks up at you and says matter-of-factly, “Have a seat. I’m just rolling up my sticky mat.” That’s more than imagination. Bill Gross is the Chief Investment Officer at Pacific Investment Management Company, a $349 billion money management firm. He has been touted as the world’s leading bond fund manager. He’s no hippie. And he practices meditation. So does former Aetna International Chairman Michael Stephen, and former Medtronic CEO, Bill George. George says, “Out of anything, it has had the greatest impact on my career.”***
What’s all the hype about? It’s the ever-illusive “win-win” situation. It’s good for the person, it’s good for the company, and there’s an impressive list of corporations and high profile executives that are embracing the philosophy: McKinsey & Company, Deutsche Bank, Apple Computer, Pacific Investment Management Co, AOL Time Warner, Texas Instruments, Intel, Yahoo, Disney and Google--to name a few. (See this recent article on yoga and business: http://www.columbiatribune.com/2007/Aug/20070808Busi011.asp
With rising health care costs, learning how to take care of ourselves has never been more important...especially given that many of the illnesses and diseases today can be attributed to lifestyle choices. It’s no longer just a private issue, either. In the past, personal health was not considered a responsibility of the employer, but that viewpoint has shifted given that the cost of illness to employers is so high in the form of lost employee time on the job, poor performance, or employee retention. What’s more, good employers are expected to offer health insurance as a traditional employee benefit and costs associated with this benefit grow when employee need for healthcare services grow. And let’s not forget, healthier people are happier people and happier people tend to be more successful, either in their relationships with others or in their business.
*Sources: Acton, R. (2006) October 13). Wellness programs generate return on investment. The Business Journal, 20, 41, 9. Vojta, D. (2006, July/August). Report on healthcare: Wellness programs and obesity. Benefits & Compensation International, 36,1,23. ** Department of Public Health. www. Mass.gov/dph/fch/wellness/index.htm ***Conlin, Michelle. “Meditation: New Research Shows that it Changes the brain in ways that alleviate stress.” BusinessWeek Online. August 30, 2004. |
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DNY Wellness Programs DNY can teach realistic and attainable ways to achieve better health and share the latest research findings on what’s really good for us and what can really make a difference. At DNY, we sift through all the media hype to break down the ’real deal’ on diet, nutrition, exercise and stress reduction. While we specialize in yoga and ayurveda, we are also experienced with general fitness from a western perspective and our solutions tend to be a combination of both worlds. Our wellness programs focus on health in three primary ways: diet, nutrition & activity. You as the individual or business may choose to focus on one particular area or opt for a more holistic combination of all three. Individualized coaching is available with all facets.
Stress Reduction: With a strong background in behavioral change, meditation & yoga instruction, we know some of the best techniques in the world to create customized programs for individuals or groups to help not only reduce stress, and even learn to enjoy some of the positive stressors in our lives (that’s right, sometimes stress is positive!) but learn to adapt on a moment by moment basis to negative stressors. This will not only keep you healthier, but improve your stamina, your focus, productivity & creativity...and it just might improve your relationships by teaching you how to lower your hackles a bit.
Diet & Nutrition: What are you eating? Are there healthier ways to enjoy the same type of diet? Are there certain foods you should try to moderate? What are the real super foods? How can you beef up your vitamins? How can you get more fiber? How can you make eating healthy tasty and realistic to prepare? How can different foods effect your mood or energy level? We review your diet one-on-one, talk about different health issues you might be having or would like to avoid, and recommend changes to your diet. Then we work with you to make your goals attainable.
Activity: Physical activity is as key to health as eating right and drinking water. For those who feel they are too busy to take time out to exercise, we can teach exercises that you can do in five minute sets throughout your day. Recent studies have shown that as long as you get at least 30 minutes of exercise a day, it’s beneficial even if they are grabbed in five minute intervals. For the individual or business that isn’t quite so time strapped, we offer weekly public yoga classes or we can arrange private individual or group classes at your location (or ours, depending on availability). These can be anytime between the hours of 7:00 am and 8:00 pm, again depending on availability. We also offer Adventure Packages to individuals and businesses who might be interested in combining yoga classes with activities like running, mountain biking, hiking, or bouldering (rock climbing on rocks that keep you low!). We provide the yoga equipment, you supply the rest! These events can be from two hours to eight hours (backpacking, camping or other trips that require two or more days, are possible, but require adequate notice and planning.). These packages offer excellent team building opportunities as well as incentives, rewards, or as part of an innovative benefits package. As with any health or fitness initiative, you should discuss changes with your doctor. Click her to see What’s all the hype about yoga? |
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Benefits of Yoga at Work Good Health is Good Business
· Fewer Sick Days: Yoga reduces stress, bolstering the immune system, revitalizing the entire body and all organ function and helps the body remove wastes & toxins almost three times faster. This results in fewer sick days taken, less fatigue and less overall illness. · Reduced or Eliminated Back & Neck Pain: Sitting at a desk for hours everyday, talking on the telephone and general bad posture while sitting at that desk all day and talking on the telephone results in tight muscles, back & neck pain. Yoga gives people tools to feel better so they can focus on what’s important. · Better Problem Solving Skills & Increased Creativity: Yoga balances the right and left sides of the brain so logical & creative thought come together as one. Reduced stress help individuals release worry thoughts so more energy goes into positivity and efficiency is increased. · Improved Concentration & Focus: Yoga teaches focus & concentration and individuals will acquire these skills during yoga practice and these skills will effortlessly transfer into all other areas of their lives. · Increased Vitality: Yoga awakens reserves of energy in your nervous, endocrine & cardiovascular systems so drowsiness & fatigue are replaced by energy and alertness. Yoga oxygenates the brain and increases endorphins in the blood, relieving symptoms of anxiety and depression that can further drain the individual. · Stronger Teams: We’ve seen yoga classes improve the quality of teamwork in companies where employees & colleagues practice yoga together, especially in companies so large that individuals might otherwise rarely encounter each other. It builds better communication & trust within teams and helps breakdown “silos” in larger companies. · Improved Self-Esteem: Doing something positive for themselves helps boost self-esteem and confidence and people who are confident are more productive. In addition, some of the yoga poses are strenuous yet nurturing. This combination reacts in a positive way psychologically for individuals who practice. |
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For More Information: Donna Stewart donna@desertnomadyoga.com 970-946-5392 Yoga & Fitness Counseling Durango, Colorado |
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Call today to find out how quickly you can improve employee morale, absenteeism and increase productivity, efficiency and job satisfaction. |