Many Employees Are Sick On The Job
Maggie Johnson here continues the discussion on the recent Families and Work Institute report on Employee Health and Wellness.
Don’t read this sitting down. Walk, jog, take the stairs – anything to help soften the news that the health of the American worker is appalling, and declining.
As the national health care debate heats up, a timely report from the nonprofit Families and Work Institute details the worrying effect of a stressed-out, time-strapped, overworked era. Too many of us are fat, sick, sleepless, and inactive. Just 28 percent of US workers say their health is excellent, down from 34 percent six years ago. And businesses are suffering as a result, not simply from rising costs for health care. Workers in poor health are less likely to be loyal, engaged, and satisfied with their jobs, the findings show.
As we might suspect, health insurance makes a difference. Those with coverage are more likely to report sleeping well, being less stressed, and feeling in excellent health than those without it, according to the report. But insurance isn’t the whole story. So holistic is the issue of health that even a respectful boss is linked to worker wellness, the researchers say.
“You have to pay attention to the small things, the way people treat each other, whether there are opportunities to learn, whether people’s input is asked for and considered,’’ says Ellen Galinsky, president of the New York-based institute. The report is largely based on data comparing worker health in 2002 and 2008.
I can see the connection: unreasonable boss = high stress = daily cookie habit = expanding tummy.
Nearly 40 percent of employees in a highly “effective’’ workplace – where people are trusted and supported – report being in excellent health, double the number of those who say they’re in the best health at less effective companies. The institute defines an effective workplace as one offering a climate of trust and respect, learning opportunities, worker autonomy, work-life fit, supervisor support, and economic security. High work-life support and flexibility are especially linked to good health outcomes.
In turn, good health is correlated with good work: More than a third of those who say they are in excellent health are highly engaged, versus less than a quarter of workers who say they are in poor health.
Of course, it’s hard to think much about exercise or getting home on time if your job is on the line, or if your company is going through rocky times.
Even before the recession, work was demanding and hectic. Nowadays, people are even more time-squeezed, and anxious about money, too.
The result? Bad habits.
“People are stressed, they aren’t exercising, not eating well, not taking care of their health,’’ says Alison Magee, vice president of clinical services at Providence-based Sobel and Raciti Associates Inc., which provides employee assistance programs to companies including Staples Inc. and Citizens Bank. Those working long or unpredictable hours find it particularly hard to stick to an exercise or dieting regimen, she says.
Still, there is progress on some fronts. More employers are realizing that health goes beyond on-site fitness centers and low-fat cafeteria muffins. What began as a wave of wellness programs a few years ago has expanded into a wider emphasis on sustainable life habits on and off the job.
“The trend among leading companies is to create a culture of well-being and health,’’ says Randall Abbott, a Boston-based senior health care consultant with Watson Wyatt, a human resources consulting firm. “If all you do is inform people that they need to improve their health, it’s not going to get any better.’’
Just ask Chris Boyce, chief executive of Framingham-based Virgin HealthMiles, a subsidiary of Britain’s Virgin Group.
The company sells corporate health-monitoring systems, such as pedometers and health kiosks where weight and blood pressure can be self-monitored. Usually, Virgin HealthMiles clients tie improvements to cash or other rewards – an incentive option now offered by 40 percent of large companies, according to Watson Wyatt.
The aim of the HealthMiles program is to “democratize’’ exercise, says Boyce, who often holds walking meetings with his staff on a track looping around the company offices.
“You don’t have to be a triathlete or hit the gym an hour a day,’’ says Boyce, who has lost 15 pounds since helping launch the company in the United States in 2006. “You can get your exercise however you want to.’’
Nearly 30 percent of previously inactive employees who participate in HealthMiles begin exercising at least a half-hour a day under the program, according to Boyce.
Easy opportunities to exercise, fresh foods, and understanding bosses all help create a health-centric workplace.
Naturally, sunshine and healthy workspaces help, too. Research shows that views of nature can help children focus, hospital patients heal, and workers boost productivity. The environment matters, indoors and out.
After NRG Systems Inc., a maker of wind measurement technology based in Hinesburg, Vt., moved into a green building in 2004, sick days fell and employees reported fewer allergies and colds.
The building, along with a second facility completed in 2008, features solar power, open spaces, and all-natural materials. On-site perks include a small swimming pool, workout room, wooded walking trails, and free healthy catered lunches four days a week.
The facilities were built both to be earth- and human-friendly, says chief executive and president Jan Blittersdorf. The starting point was, “how do we create great buildings that people will want to be in?’’ she says. “People lead full lives inside and outside of work. We want them to feel good about coming to work, enjoy their work, and do it well.’’
Why Does Your Office Need An Employee Wellness Program?
John Bates creates workplace wellness programs and gives some definitive statistics below about what employers can expect from an employee wellness program.
A worksite wellness program is an organized initiative to assist and support staff members in establishing healthier lifestyles. This may include enhancing employee awareness on health topics, providing behavior modification initiatives, and/or establishing corporate policies that support health-related goals and objectives. Wellness programs and policies that promote increased physical activity, smoking cessation and prevention, and healthy food choices are a few examples.
The Dimensions of Wellness
Wellness is more than simply being healthy. The dimensions of wellness may include:
- Spiritual Dimension of Wellness
- Emotional Dimension of Wellness
- The Social Dimension of Wellness
- Intellectual Dimension of Wellness
- The Physical Dimension of Wellness
The dimensions of wellness are sometimes depicted as a “wellness wheel” with examples of the components of wellness that include nutrition, fitness purpose of life, financial planning, social connections & support systems, mind-body health, stress management continued learning and career planning. The key to individual wellness is maintaining a balanced “wellness wheel”. A truly comprehensive health promotion/wellness program addresses most, if not all, of these dimensions of wellness.
Why Provide a Workplace Health Promotion Program?
Employees spend a great deal of their time at work, and research continues to show that our long-standing work-week is expanding. In fact, the average U.S. adult now works almost 47 hours per week. Further, technologies such as laptop computers, mobile phones, voice and email have blurred the boundary between work-life and home-life. These realities decrease the amount of time that the average person is able to devote to health and wellness activities, and yet staff members are expected to be at their peak performance when on the job.
A study by the American Association of Occupational Health Nurses found that Corporate Wellness Programs are successful in assisting staff members make positive health changes due to numerous factors such as environmental support, convenience and social or co-worker acceptance.
What’s the Connection between Health and Wellness and the Workplace?
Corporate Wellness Programs and Policies that promote healthy behaviors can make a significant impact on employee wellness AND have an impact on the corporation’s bottom line. Research studies have shown that for every dollar invested by companies in Corporate Wellness Programs, there were savings ranging from $1.49 to $4.91 with the average health promotion/wellness program return-on-investment being $3.14. In businesses terms, that’s more than a 3:1 minimum wellness return-on-investment – a number that is impossible to ignore, and a best practice that should warrant serious consideration from companies. In fact, a Workplace Wellness program literature review posted in Health Promotion Practitioner Journal found:
- 19 different research studies found a 28.3% reduction in sick time
- 16 different research studies found a 5.6:1 return-on-investment
- 23 different research studies found a 26.1% reduction in health care costs
- 4 different research studies found a 30% reduction in direct health care and workers’ compensation claims
There is little doubt that a Workplace Health Promotion Program targeted to meet a corporation’s specific needs can save money by reducing absenteeism, reducing health care costs, reducing employee turnover, and enhancing productivity.
Vital Elements Of A Good Employee Wellness Program
Benedict Yossarian talks about the essential aspects of what makes an employee health and wellness program in the workplace effective.
The number of corporations that set up employee wellness programs continues to rise this year. Investments in wellness programs are increasingly being given serious thought. Studies show that having a sound employee wellness scheme in place brings about benefits, not only to the workers but to the companies as well. Some of these benefits include:
- higher worker productivity
- reduced absenteeism
- a considerable boost in employee morale
- lower health care costs
- decrease in employee turnover
For a company to thrive and succeed in the market place, it is vital for it to provide its labor force with an environment that they are happy to work in. A highly productive work force translates to business success and longevity.
So what makes a good employee wellness program?
- A well-devised fitness program – Companies should encourage its work force to be more active and they can do this by providing ample opportunities for exercise. Some companies have in-house facilities such as swimming pools, corporate gyms, basketball and tennis courts and the like. If the current location doesn’t have these facilities then perhaps companies can offer their employees free memberships at clubs and off-site fitness facilities.
- Family-inclusive – A wellness program that includes workers’ family members is good motivation for them to keep performing well. This gives off the impression that the company is truly concerned about its workers. Fitness is a family affair and what better way to sustain fitness efforts than to get everybody in the family involved?
- Stress reduction program – Stress in the work place is a very serious matter and is often one of the major causes of employee burn out. A good wellness scheme should address the issue of stress management by providing support programs such as counseling or other professional services designed to reduce anxiety disorders, depression and so on.
- In-house health care facilities – Having health care services available in-house is beneficial to both employees and companies. This helps reduce medical and insurance costs and at the same time, it provides employees with immediate medical help should they require it.
- Wellness coaching - A wellness program is likely to be more successful if there is constant support provided along with it. Employees are given assistance when it comes to monitoring physical fitness progress, motivation, counseling and discussing stress reduction techniques among others. Regular counseling sessions are also beneficial for those suffering from high risk conditions.
- Strict implementation of no smoking rules – Smoking is one of the major contributors to serious health problems and it is important for companies to be uncompromising in its rules when it comes to smoking. It isn’t enough to set up rules, though. More importantly, there should be adequate encouragement and support for those who want to quit smoking. Some companies even go as far as counseling and providing medication to facilitate quitting.
- Weight loss programs – Obesity is another major health risk but this can be reduced by having a well designed weight loss program. It is important that employees be encouraged to lose weight by providing opportunities for weight reduction activities. It is even more crucial that they be monitored regularly in the long term.
How Corporate Massage Can Boost Health And Productivity At Work
Here Jeff Scott talks about the many benefits of having regular massage in your workplace.
Corporate massages will help to look after the health and well-being of your employees. If you are successful in improving your employee morale and orgnisational profitability through this unconventional method, then why not try it? Corporate massage therapy can be used exclusively in-house or for various corporate events or conferences. Your HR department can also utilize corporate massage services when they are organizing office parties or wellness days. They can also be used as rewards and incentives for acknowledging outstanding employee contributions as well as excellent overall team performance.
There are many known benefits of massage therapy. Some of the benefits to individuals include, but are not limited to:
- Relief from stress
- Calming down of the nervous system
- Decrease in muscular aches and pains
- Boost in energy and alertness
- Prevention of repetitive strain injuries
- General body maintenance
On the business end, there are also several reasons why corporate massage services are a good choice for any business, such as:
- Improvement in employee morale
- Decrease in absenteeism rates
- Increase in productivity rates
- Decrease in employee turnover rates
So how does this ‘corporate massage’ concept work?
It’s quite simple really. A qualified massage therapist will arrive at your workplace and set up in the area designated by you. Typically, a massage is performed on either a treatment table or massage chair with the employee fully clothed. The massage can also take place while the employee is seated at their desk. The therapist will massage the areas of the back, neck, shoulders, arms, hands and the scalp. The therapist’s primary aim is to reduce stress and tension in the body that has built up in the body. Corporate massage therapy will allow you to return to work feeling refreshed and refocused and ready to take on the world!
Sounds pretty good to me! It’s amazing how little it takes to totally transform your experience of a day – just 5 or 10 minutes under and experts hands can uplift you and change your whole outlook! Need help organising regular massage for your staff at work? We can find the right qualified and experienced local professionals to come in and energise your workplace.
Creating A Wellness Based Program In Your Workplace
Jasmin Jafferali is a wellness program coordinator and instructor and speaks here about many common issues in the workplace in employee health and wellbeing.
Wellness is a hot topic. The wellness industry is expected to be the next trillion-dollar industry within the next five years. With health care rising 10 percent each year for the past several years, many organizations are working to implement and develop wellness programs for their company. In fact, more than 50 percent of U.S. companies are operating corporate wellness programs today.
According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, for every 100 employees in this country:
- 27 have cardiovascular disease
- 24 have high blood pressure
- 50 or more have high cholesterol
- 26 are overweight by 20 percent or more
- 10 are heavy drinkers
- 59 do not get adequate exercise
- 44 suffer from stress
Wellness programs for the corporate world are an opportunity for every health club. There is a need for wellness because of the health care crisis we are battling each day. Health care in our country focuses more on treating the sick instead of preventing the disease through preventative care.
Wellness programs offer much more than just educating our clients. Programs offer an opportunity to change an unhealthy lifestyle to a healthy one. There are many ways you can incorporate wellness programs into your facility. You can offer a corporate wellness division, in which your health club offers employee wellness programs for organizations, or you can just simply add more wellness-based programs for your members.
However you choose to add wellness, each facility has to decide what wellness will mean in their organization. Being “well” is more than just going to the gym—it is getting a sports massage, going to a meditation class to relieve stress or attending a wellness seminar. It is giving members a place to relieve stress and get healthy through other means than just exercise.
Deciding what wellness will mean in your facility may be “going green” and offering recycling bins throughout your club, which would be one aspect of wellness. Once you decide what wellness will mean in your facility, it is important to have a team of people that is devoted completely to wellness. Once you have your team in place, management will have to determine its target audience before programming begins.
Target populations can be broken up into different categories:
- Special populations (prenatal, Baby Boomers, gender specific, etc.)
- Athletic programs (running/walking, triathlon and marathon training, etc.)
- Family programming (“Mommy and Me” classes, kids camps, self-defense classes, etc.)
You may even go as far as surveying your members to see what it is they are seeking in their health club. A good opportunity to do this is when they first join. However, you can also survey your members through e-mail and have it automatically calculated to see where the interest is. Having this information can be important for the team that is responsible for the wellness division of your organization. It will help them coordinate wellness programs more effectively and give them a good base to begin programming.
Surveying your staff members is crucial to an effective wellness solution that works to save you money on staff costs and improve the health of your team. What’s the point of having a wellness program that employees don’t find relevant to their needs? Creating an affordable solution to the corporate health of your staff while providing a personalised solution is a valuable key to our success.
Wellness Incentive Programs Give A Little Extra To Employees To Get Heaps Back
This article by Kaila West speaks of Generation Y and how important a workplace wellness program is for them to feel valued and to value their employer back. Simply providing an income isn’t enough these days and to get maximum productivity and maximum buy in and commitment from staff they need a little extra.
Loyalty in the workplace is gone. Modern generations no longer feel committed to their employers as their parents once did. They don’t feel a sense of pride in taking one for the team if it isn’t going to immediately benefit them, and if you aren’t going to give them what they want then they are going to go somewhere else – fast. It is this egocentric mentality that makes providing worthwhile benefits not just a nice amenity anymore but a necessity. Yet this new generation of workers don’t just want to be lavished with perks, they want to feel like they are valued as individuals inside the organization, which is why wellness incentive programs are essential employer tools.
Wellness incentive programs are a form of a multifaceted benefits package provided by employers that tend to the health of the employee. They are a conglomeration of discounts, free passes, and complimentary evaluations that all focus on ensuring the individual employee is in good shape both physically and emotionally. Common components of wellness incentive programs include discounts to local sports clubs, preventative screenings in the doctor’s office, annual wellness fairs, reduced membership to weight loss programs, and the in-office distribution of stress management information through flyers and e-mails.
These programs are popular with employees and potential employees for myriad reasons. One reason is that they encourage access to many lifestyle refinements – such as health club membership, better diets, and a lowered stress level – that are considered by most of the workforce as indulgent luxuries. Similarly, and perhaps more importantly, they show employees that you want them to enjoy these finer things, which signifies to them that you truly value their contribution and believe in a reasonable work-life balance. Yet this is exactly why these programs are not only beneficial for employees, but also for employers. Wellness incentive programs are relatively cheap to maintain, yet they speak volumes to your workforce. Many companies today talk a big game about the value they place on the balance between work and the life employees have outside of work without ever following through. Work-life balance is key for the employee to hear, yet it’s not always what the employer needs. However, established wellness programs provide a concrete piece of evidence that can be pointed to that not only substantiates the claim but also makes good on it without disrupting the productivity of the workplace.
That’s not to mention the fact that happy and healthy workers are more productive workers. Studies have shown repeatedly that employees who maintain a healthy lifestyle and participate in stress-reducing activities outside of work – such as regular exercise – are able to maintain concentration for longer and enjoy higher overall energy levels. Similarly, research has also proven that workers who feel they are valued by the overall organization will yield better results that those who feel disgruntled or lost in the shuffle. Perhaps the best part of wellness incentive programs is their low cost-to-results ratio. Since the programs consist of little more than group discount rates and good PR, there is little to pay for. Many companies that work in the health sector are only too happy to be involved in the program for a nominal fee for a chance to directly advertise to such a rapt audience, meaning all you really have to do is compile the information of the various services, print it in a nice brochure, and pass it out. You can be guaranteed that the benefits you will receive in the form of higher morale and better productivity will be exponentially greater than the effort it takes to establish the program.
Power Stretching For Employees With Desk Jobs Can Make A Huge Difference
This article by Steven Arculeo talks about the many benefits of stretching – apply these to a work environment and you have an easy way to lift energy and improve employee health and wellbeing.
As our lives get busier and busier with our jobs, home projects, parenting, travel, and family obligations, etc., exercise can become less of a priority. The most common excuse is, “I don’t have the time to work out”. We have all heard this at some point, whether it was us or someone else saying it. Unfortunately, when exercise falls down our list of importance it directly affects our mental and physical health. For those who fall into such a category of excuses, a power stretching routine can be a simple and easy way to get back on track. A power stretching routine consists of exercises that work on increasing flexibility, core strength, balance, and postural awareness. Power stretching has numerous health benefits, is easy to start, and does not require huge amounts of time. The following are some benefits of a power stretching routine.
1. Increased flexibility. Flexible muscles can improve your daily performance. Tasks such as lifting packages, bending to tie your shoes or hurrying to catch a bus become easier and less tiring.
2. Increased joint range of motion. As we age, our muscles tighten and we lose full range of motion of our joints. Simple activities that we once took for granted, like doing the dishes, picking things up from the floor, and washing our hair can all become difficult. A power stretching routine can help lengthen your muscles and make these daily activities easier and more enjoyable.
3. Improved circulation. Power stretching improves circulation of blood to the muscles and joints. Increased blood circulation brings nutrients to our cells and removes waste byproducts.
4. Decreased stress and tension. Power stretching relaxes the tense muscles that often accompany stress.
5. Improved posture. Poor posture can sneak up on all of us. An example is an employee who sits at the computer all day long that is not aware of body mechanics. Over long periods of time the pectoral (chest) muscles tighten causing forward rolled shoulders. This results in a tremendous strain to, not only the upper body muscles, but also the spine. By loosening pectoral muscles one will find it much easier to sit tall as they are able to move the shoulders back comfortably.
6. Improved athletic performance. By increasing flexibility you are allowing the joints to move more freely through full range of motion. This will allow the muscles to function optimally.
7. Helps build strength. Muscles work in opposition. When doing a bicep curl the bicep contracts and the triceps lengthen. If the triceps are not flexible this will prevent the bicep from fully contracting. This will prohibit the strength in the bicep.
A power stretching routine is beneficial for everyone. However, before beginning a power stretching routine it is recommended you are guided through a routine that benefits you and your lifestyle.
Any kind of stretching is a quick and easy way to boost energy and mood. The best thing is it’s free of charge, and can be done anytime and anywhere and you don’t need any special equipment – just your own body! All workplace productivity can be drastically improved by implementing a group stretch session every hour. Ask a personal trainer or us about a really quick and really easy stretching routine for your staff. By spending 2 or 3 minutes several times a day employee health and wellbeing, focus and work outcomes will thrive!
Eating at Work Can Make Us Fat
This article by Ann Belser talks about the traps of convenience eating – how we don’t even notice it affecting our health. Little by little, slowly over time, we put on weight, decrease our exercise and get stuck in the cycle of low energy -sugar-high energy-crash because it’s just so easy. The scenarios below are common to any workplace and are accepted practice. In isolation they are communal sharing and kind gesture but put all together, they can damage our health and our ability to get the job done.
We all know the table, the desk, even the credenza where the goodies are piled in the office.
Rosa buys pies every Thursday.
R.J. brings in roasted peanuts.
Teresa finally finished selling chocolate for her son’s band trip to Orlando.
And even though Arlene retired last year, she still sends in baked goods.
All that sugar is a key ingredient in a recipe to get us fat.
Margaret Lewin, an internist in New York City and the medical director of Cinergy Health, a Florida-based insurance company that provides limited medical benefit plans, said working — particularly the office work so many do — is an easy way to gain weight.
We work through lunch, then we are so hungry we scarf down anything we can find — usually something sweet, which gives us a sugar rush followed by a sugar crash, which causes us to go forth and forage the office again.
“It’s always around,” Lewin said. “You walk past somebody’s desk and they brought in brownies or bagels or some other refined carbohydrates.”
The trick, she said, actually is snacking on small bits of food, particularly satisfying food, throughout the day.
In a study, she said, people who ate the same numbers of calories had very different results depending on how they ate them.
Those who ate all of their calories in one meal gained weight.
Those who ate equal numbers of calories in three meals a day stayed even and those who spread the food across 16 little meals actually lost weight.
And if you’re going to a party after work, have a snack about a half hour to an hour before. “A healthy snack can help you eat less,” she said.
Whole-wheat crackers and low-fat cheese are more satisfying over the long term than the Twizzlers on Linda’s desk, because they are not followed by a sugar crash.
Lewin cuts up vegetables to snack on at work. She swears that salsa really does taste good on celery.
She also snacks on veggies when she comes home, while she is making dinner, rather than grabbing the Ruffles and French onion dip.
“I don’t believe in deprivation. I do believe in fooling your body into thinking you’re full,” she said.
And then there is exercise.
As we get older, she said, we find ways to become more efficient, such as piling stuff up at the bottom of the stairs to carry up in one trip. Just 100 calories a day in being efficient is 10 pounds of weight we don’t burn off every year.
Her advice: be less efficient.
Take the stairs more.
In the office, use them instead of the elevator.
Get up and walk over to a colleague with a question rather than sending an e-mail.
And when you have something to discuss with your boss or a co-worker, get out of the office and talk while walking.
“We have to learn to drift off the weight the same way we let it drift on,” she said.
Australia is rapidly catching up to US when it comes to obesity rates and munching on high sugar and high fat convenience foods combined with insufficient exercise every day is one way to ensure we continue to do so. The highs and lows of frequent sugar consumption affect our mood, thinking processes, focus and productivity at work in the short term and our life expectancy in the long term. Encouraging healthier choices at work by integrating a comprehensive employee health and wellness program in your office can combat the effects of poor diet outside of work and stimulate employees to put positive changes into place.
Employee Wellness Programs Save Companies Money
There are a few key ways that wellness programs can save money for a company. Perhaps the most apparent cost savings is in the productivity of the staff. A staff that is encouraged to lead a healthy lifestyle will have a higher morale and miss less work. This seems easy enough to understand. If you’re happy and healthy, you’ll be sick less often. You’ll also be less interested in taking off work for ‘mental health’ days from exhaustion or lack of morale.
Turnover is also reduced by employee wellness. A company that places value on employee health will attract youthful, energetic individuals. This means that you’ll attract better candidates and lose them to attrition less often. Companies with employee wellness programs are generally seen as being more committed to their employees. They are seen as being more caring.
Healthy people also work more effectively while on the job. Good health leads to high stamina and quality decision making. A staff of healthy individuals is therefore more productive and successful in their actions.
The less obvious cost-saving benefit of employee wellness programs involves your health insurance plans. Companies pay for costly health claims when sick or unhealthy employees utilize their health insurance. While companies want their employees to get the most of their health insurance, it is always beneficial to seek preventative measures.
It is better for the company if employees choose to maintain good health rather than to seek medical care reactively, particularly if the medical care could have been prevented with a healthy lifestyle. Research has consistently shown that workers who are high-risk medically will cost their companies more.
If you want the best employees at the lowest cost, it will always be beneficial to promote health and wellness. Often the best way to do this is with a workplace wellness program.
Peer Pressure At Work Can Be Bad For Our Health
We all have internal alarm systems that ring at varying degrees of loudness depending on our needs at the time. At work however, because of group or peer pressure, company norms, fear of judgment or lack of advancement, we can ignore our internal alarms that tell us when to stop. This article by Arthur Rosenfeld speaks about how being forced or encouraged to conform can damage our health.
The October 9 issue of The Week reports that during this month’s gigantic celebration of the 60th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic, more than 1000 Chinese soldiers sought mental health counseling after drilling for the event. http://www.theweek.com/article/index/101110/The_world_at_a_glance____International
Why? Because the training sessions required microscopic levels of coordination between the soldiers (limited blinking, holding their rifles at precisely the same level etc.) for a satisfying visual effect.
Readers may remember the same sort of painstaking choreography during the opening ceremonies of last year’s Beijing Olympic games, especially during the martial arts segment, when thousands of practitioners in flowing robes moved in unison across the world’s stage to demonstrate tai chi, the crown jewel of Chinese martial arts and culture.
Supporters of communist ideology may lionize the subjugation of the individual to the greater good (usually, unfortunately, for the benefit of the ruling few) but it turns out that such a high level of conformity in public performances isn’t very good for one’s health. In addition to the physical rigors of simultaneously monitoring one’s one movements, the mental effort of trying to maintain awareness of what everyone else is doing–at least at the level required of the soldiers in the anniversary celebration–can be a source of debilitating stress.
Every dancer or performer knows this kind of work has its challenges, and every soldier knows the far worse consequences combat can bring, but marrying this kind of external focus to the practice of tai chi flies in the face of the very purpose of the art, which is to bring our focus inward. Tai chi practice is a laboratory for the exploration of our internal world, a place where we can test the relationship between mind and body in the context of exercises that follow the Daoist principles underlying the art. We know these principles as “don’t meet force with force” and “go with the flow,” but a principle that is lesser known, despite tai chi’s much vaunted balance benefits, is the notion of keeping one’s wuji, or personal equilibrium.
As our world grows speedier, greedier and more crowded, the pressure to conform increases. Wittingly or not, intentionally or not, each and every one of us is caught up in a web of external circumstances. We look around for cues for everything from what to eat and how to dress to what opinions to hold and how to prioritize our lives. Some of this learning is constructive, but much of it is not, primarily because the external noise of conformity drowns out the voice of our own intuition – the subconscious guide to our own true north.
For many of us, simply going to work can be stressful enough if the environment isn’t understanding or sympathetic to our needs. Add that to pressure to conform with company standards and we have many, many potentially damaging effects on employee health and wellness and workplace health.
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