#workplace-wellness

#workplace-wellness

For a new project, Between the Walls blended the comforts of home and the functionality of an office. "People no longer want sterile work environments, they crave warmth, comfort, and a sense of belonging," says Victoria Karieva, designer and co-founder of Between the Walls. "From the earliest planning stages we focused on designing a space that doesn't impose pressure, but instead calms, inspires, and restores inner balance."

The World Health Organization describes wellness as not merely the absence of disease, but rather a state that transcends the absence of disease and approaches optimum psychological, physical, spiritual, and social health. The history of optimizing health dates to the ancient Greeks. The fifth-century B.C. text On Regimen, authored by Hippocrates and his students, is likely the authoritative reference that described specific means of obtaining optimum health.

Workplace "wellness" initiatives-like free yoga classes, mindfulness tips, step challenges, diet advice, and other pushes for well-being now common at work-are supposed to be a win-win situation: Employees get healthier and happier while employers reap the benefits of lower health care costs. But in practice, these programs frequently miss the mark, and many employees perceive them as intrusive and out of touch.

Juzen Chemical Corporation, founded in 1950 in Toyama City, is a contract manufacturer of active pharmaceutical ingredients. Situated between the Jintsu River and the Fugan Canal within an industrial park, the company decided to consolidate its dispersed offices, meeting rooms, and cafeteria into a new headquarters. The new building not only addresses operational efficiency but also reflects Toyama's natural environment and cultural heritage, while offering a workplace that enhances employee well-being and connects with the surrounding community.

Take a break from your desk with this 30-minute express lunchtime class every Thursday from 12:30 pm to 1 pm. Pair with Express Bootcamp beforehand for a full body workout.