Why organisational culture, not yoga, will solve your anxiety

Yoga and mindfulness practices have risen in popularity in the past decade. They are seen as a cure-all to the daily troubles of our modern life, including our working life. But there is something even more powerful that can improve well-being in the workplace: organisational culture.

The accelerated pace of life, our digital addiction, the new stressors of the working world — all have contributed to a desire to find ways to regain better control of our lives. Stressed at work? Five minutes of daily meditation will do. Trouble sleeping? No worries, a warrior yoga pose before bed will solve it. Can’t disconnect from your work e-mails? Sit in a lotus position until you can. Feel like you’re always on the run? Easy, practice your yoga handstand.

Magic cure or false promise?

The benefits of these and other similar mindful practices are undeniable. Yet, the assumption that they can act as a magic cure by themselves creates false expectations. These practices usually encourage us to look inwards and find our own individual balance. If we look outwards, though, our work environment is usually a more powerful determinant of our well-being.

Mindfulness can’t compensate for a toxic culture