Every October 10th the World Health Organization celebrates World Health Day in an effort to tackle the increasing global challenge of mental health. This years theme was: Mental Health at Work

IMPROVE MENTAL WELL-BEING & MENTAL RESILIENCE AT WORK WITH BREATHWORK

Better mental health starts with better physical health. Over the centuries, the nature of work has shifted tremendously. Most of us no longer toil long shifts in the factory or plow the fields. The new normal however, has its own challenges.

We still work long hours. Instead of physical labor that conditions our body, we are stuck behind in a chair for most of the day. The weight of work is felt in our head, instead of our back.

Our body becomes weak while our mind becomes overwhelmed.

Over the decades, companies have invested heavily in various solutions, from ergonomic offices to meditation rooms.

So far, they have overlooked the most powerful, and yet, most available solution: breathwork.

Breathwork is the link between the body and the mind. 

Our lungs link our heart and our brain through the vagus nerve, one of the twelve cranial nerves that travel through the body.

We can effect our lungs by the way we breathe, and in effect effect our mind and heart simply by changing our breathing ratio.

Once you understand and learn how to control your breathing, you have a homemade regulation button for your mental state.

Sounds pretty neat, huh?

We don’t want to leave you empty-handed. 

Here are three simple breathwork exercises for the workplace that you can do from the comfort of your office chair (or at home).

Each of these mental health workplace exercises has a specific purpose: relaxation, energy and focus.

RELAX

ENERGY

FOCUS