Practicing the Nap

Interrupting the mayhem of corporate life with a power nap is a staple in Japan, but in the U.S? Not so much. But evidence shows that CEOs and even small business owners should take heed of the practice. This blogger discusses a segment she witnessed on the benefits of napping, hosted by Dr. Sarah Mednick. Apparently, just a 20-minutes snoozer can decrease sleepiness, and increase alertness and memory. You would think bosses would want this, right? I mean, doesn’t it stand to reason that napping can actually increase productivity? Well, Nike thinks so. They even encourage their employees to visit the pillow each day. Read about it here and watch the video: competent-advantage.blogspot.com.

Keep Breathing

Why is it that so many yoga teachers remind us to keep breathing throughout the class? Can it be that we actually forget to do the most basic, life-affirming reflex? The answer is yes. Of course, we never stop breathing completely but are we doing it to the best of our abilities? When we exert ourselves (as we do in yoga classes), we tend to hold our breath, often without even realizing it. So, breathing actually becomes something we must consciously do. When under stress—as in sitting in traffic—notice whether or not you’re holding your breath. This recent article in the Virginian online newspaper, DNROnline, discusses the act of breathing. Dr. Marcelle Pick, a physician in Maine says we often don’t take in as much oxygen as we need to. We need to rid ourselves of belly breathing and incorporate deeper breaths. Yoga is one way to mindfully do this, especially when the teacher is there to remind us. See dnroline.com.

Yoga Class Pre-Requisite

If you’re new to yoga, you may want to take a short class in yoga etiquette. This will help you fit right in, feel at ease, and make you less nervous when taking your first few classes. The commonly acceptable yoga behaviors are pretty universal so once you get them down, you’re good to go. This video features a newcomer to yoga who faces many of the issues that newbies do, including what to wear, shoe etiquette, eating before class, talking in class, hygiene, and how to handle those pesky electronic devices.