While lunch is something your employees can focus on right now, what about in the coming months?  You know-the dreaded bathing suit season?

Never fear--Recess's Health Immersion is back!  Starting in July, we'll be offering our two-month bootcamp-style program.   Meet three days a week for diverse classes like yoga, budokon, and circuit training.  

Make friends, have fun, and look fab!  And don't forget the great bag that every participant receives.  It's full of over $200 worth of wellness schwag from local companies.

Be on the look out for giveaways--we'll have drawings for sweet yoga and athletic accessories for participants who sign up early.  And ask us about referring a friend--there's a t-shirt and discount in it for you!

You've probably heard about some of the physical benefits of yoga--increased circulation and flexibility, strength building, etc.  You've also probably heard it does nice things for the ol' thinker, especially in the areas of reducing stress and anxiety (but don't take our word for it, take Harvard's!)

But how do those benefits play into a better office environment and increased productivity?  Well, check out this study: Professor Baba Shiv, who teaches marketing at Stanford and also happens to know a thing or two about neuroscience, set up a simple experiment.  People were put in a room, given a number to memorize, and told to walk one room over and report their number to a researcher.  The catch?  Some people were given a one-digit number, while others got stuck with a seven-digit number.  The second catch?  As they walked from one room to the other, participants we offered a snack.  That's right.  Someone approached them and told them they could either have a piece of chocolate cake or a fruit salad.

How did these two seemingly unrelated events play out?  Well, far and away, people with the longer number to memorize went for the chocolate cake, while those with the short number opted for the healthier fruit.  In Shiv's words, "Carrying a lighter cognitive load, the one-digit group had more brain power left to resist the lure of the cake."


We feel ya, kid.

Seems crazy, but then think--when you're rushing around, juggling a massive to-do list in your head and suddenly you have to eat, the last thing you want to think about is what will be good for your long term health.  You want something you don't have to think about, something that will be satisfying and tasty--chocolate cake!  

Even if you know it's not the best decision, you're usually able to justify it--"Oh, its not that bad."  But what if it is?  A study at the University of Arkansas found that when it comes to eating out, especially with fast food, "that as the calorie content of a meal increased, so did the extent to which calorie, fat and sodium levels were underestimated."


So back to yoga.  Or pilates.  Or group exercise classes.  Or whatever wellness plan Recess has set up to fit your office's specific needs.  Having a time during the day when employees can breathe deeply, move their bodies, and lighten their cognitive loads ends up being a boon to the whole company.  Greater mental clarity leads to better decision-making, which means the conversation at the next office happy hour might actually be, well, happy.



Plus, check out these stats from Partners for Prevention. A meta-review of 42 published studies of worksite health promotion programs shows

    * Average $5.93-to-$1 savings-to-cost ratio
    * Average 28% reduction in sick leave absenteeism
    * Average 26% reduction in health costs
    * Average 30% reduction in workers' compensation and disability      management claims costs

Given the state of the economy, it may seem counter-intuitive to add anything in the way of employee benefits.  But when you build a customized wellness plan with Recess, you're potentially saving big bucks in the long run and definitely making a positive difference in your employee's lives now.  Not a bad way to start the new year!  Well, with that and maybe a small slice of chocolate cake.