Yoga als mittel zum stressmanagement : die wirkung von yoga auf den stressprozess und die einbettung von yoga als interventıonsmassnahme in das betriebliche stressmanagement

Abstract

Yoga helps to reduce physical and psychic problems that derive from stress and can regulate the stress response. Due to the constitutional impact, which has been confirmed by various surveys, Yoga has been integrated as stress management intervention into many organizations. However, research was missing a synthesis of the various surveys, that combines the different impacts on the stress process to a comprehensive model and integrates yoga into the stress management model. The present work contributes by establishing the different points of connection between yoga and the process of stress in relation to previous research. For this purpose, the process of stress and a comprehensive stress management model were discussed, an exemplary hatha yoga class was analysed and the emerging results were compared. In a further step, yoga was classified as intervention in the stress management model and it was examined in which area yoga has an effect. It has been shown that a yoga class combines many different methods and aspects that are effective at different points in the stress process. Although the various aspects of a yoga class cannot influence the stress-inducing environmental factors (stressors), they can have a positive influence on the attitude and perception of the individual. This in turn can downregulate the stress reaction, as they have a relaxing and regenerating effect. Yoga also shows a positive effect on the long-term health implications of stress. Yoga is therefore an intervention in the context of operational stress management that starts with the individual, has a relaxing effect on them and increases their resilience. If the methods are learned and internalized by the individual, yoga has a positive and lasting effect on individual coping strategies. Yoga is efficacious in various areas of corporate stress management, but as it is an intervention, it cannot cover all relevant areas. Following an holistic stress management approach, job resources and stressors should also be addressed and other problem focused coping strategies should be taught. The present work gives a recommendation for particularly important aspects of a yoga course within a company.