Perhaps one of the most surprising -
and promising - trends in business today
is the rise of mindfulness
in the workplace.

From small companies to multinational
corporations, more and more people
are meditating on the job, and
with good reason: mindfulness
can make us more focused,
more effective, and happier.

At first, the notion of yoga
and meditation in the office
seems like the province of
Silicon Valley start-ups
where employees bring their dogs
to work and play football
in the lobby.

But in recent years, mindfulness
has gone mainstream - as New York Times
staff writer David Gelles shares
in MINDFUL WORK: How Meditation is
Changing Business from the Inside out.

As David shares, many of America’s
largest companies, such as General Mills,
Target, Google, and Aetna, have built
extensive programs to foster mindful practices
among their workers.

This is because — as employees and employers
are discovering, and psychologists and
cognitive scientists have confirmed —
mindfulness has tangible benefits.

For workers, meditation lowers stress,
increases mental focus, and alleviates
depression. For companies,
a more mindful workforce is more productive.

Join Julie Ann and David for this insightful
investigation into the growing trend among
major companies, including Fortune 100 giants,
to promote mindful activities like meditation
and yoga in the workplace, and its often surprising
effects on productivity, strategy, and employees’
mental health ... as well as keys to balancing
home life and personal relationships, future
economic ramifications; and passing down
a legacy of mindfulness to our children.