LOOK: How Your Job Is Slowly Killing You

More than eight in 10 Americans^[1] are stressed about their jobs. Occupational stress is so pervasive that we accept it as a fact of life, but the truth is that demanding jobs do more than make us unhappy -- they can also spur some serious health consequences.

Chronic stress in general has been linked with a number of negative health issues^[2] , including poor sleep quality, depression, weight gain and an increased risk of developing a number of chronic diseases. And studies looking particularly at work stress show that there are a number of physical and mental effects unique to on-the-job strain.

If you're part of that blissful 17 percent of the population^[3] who say that nothing about their job stresses them out, congratulations. But for the rest of us, check out the infographic below for some of the scary ways your high-octane career could be affecting your health. If this research doesn't make you want to leave it all behind to teach yoga^[4] or travel the world^[5] , we don't know what will.

Infographic by Jan Diehm for The Huffington Post.

Also on HuffPost:

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  Eagle Pose (Garudasana)

  
  

  "The symmetry we experience in practicing balancing poses helps us turn away from the mind's business and towards the body's recalibration and healing," says Brower. The Eagle Pose can be particularly beneficial for quieting the mind and bringing the attention to the body. Try holding standing pose for 30-60 seconds on each side.

  
  


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  Headstand (Salamba Sirsasana)

  
  

  Headstand can help ease anxiety by reversing the blood flow and forcing you to focus on the breath and the body in the present moment, wellness expert <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dr-terri-kennedy/" target="_blank">Dr. Terri Kennedy</a> tells the Huffington Post. It may look challenging, but even beginner yogis can practice a modified version with the help of an instructor. "It's surprisingly accessible to many people because you can do it in many ways," she says. "You can do it against the wall to start."

  
  


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  Child's Pose (Balasana)

  
  

  One of the quintessential resting poses of any yoga practice, Child's Pose -- which involves sitting on the knees and bending forward with arms forward or by your side -- can be very comforting and self-soothing. "Lying on my belly helps me a lot when I feel anxious," says Brower. "Child's pose helps us turn inside and slow our minds down."

  
  


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  Corpse Pose (Savasana)

  
  

  At the end of your practice -- or anytime you're feeling overwhelmed -- try lying down flat on your back, with your arms at your sides, and simply focusing on the breath for one to 10 minutes. "Corpse is the ultimate in terms of relaxation -- it really allows the body to sink down into the ground, and it's easier to tune into the breath when you're lying on the back and watching the belly rise up and down," Kennedy says.

  
  


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  Half Moon Pose (Ardha Chandrasana)

  
  

  To quiet the mind and cultivate focused awareness, try the Half Moon Pose, a balancing posture with one leg raised 90 degrees and one hand on the floor or on a block. "Balancing poses take our attention off of the mind and into the body," Brower says.

  
  


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  Supported Shoulder Stand (Salamba Sarvangasana)

  
  

  Inversions like headstand and shoulder stand can help you to get out of the "monkey mind" by putting you in a completely different position than your normal life, Kennedy says. "Inversions in general turn things upside down," she explains. "Stress and anxiety are more of a <em>perception </em>of danger and unease, and when you can get out of your mind -- literally -- that helps."

  
  


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  Tree Pose (Vrksasana)

  
  

  Before moving on to the Eagle and Half Moon balancing poses, beginners should start with Tree Pose, a basic standing balance to help calm a racing mind and induce concentration. "Balancing poses force you to be honest about where you are currently, and they force you to pay attention to where you are," Kennedy says. "If you're in a tree pose and your mind is wandering, you'll know it -- you'll fall over."

  
  


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  Legs Up The Wall Pose (Viparita Karani)

  
  

  Kennedy recommends Legs Up The Wall pose as a simple but effective anxiety-busting posture for beginners that can help you to escape the "thinking mind." "You don't have to be so flexible or so strong, and yet it's very relaxing and very calming for the nervous system," she says.

  
  


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  Standing Forward Bend (Uttanasana)

  
  

  Forward bends are excellent for calming our nervous system, according to Brower. The posture provides a release of the upper body and soothes the mind through gentle inversion either when practiced on its own or between poses.

  
  


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  Fish Pose (Matsyasana)

  
  

  Yoga Journal <a href="http://www.yogajournal.com/poses/786" target="_blank">recommends </a>Fish Pose for fatigue and anxiety relief, as well as gentle back and shoulder stretching. Beginners may want to place a thickly-folded blanket beneath the head for neck support if they are experiencing any discomfort.

  
  

References

1. ^{^} eight in 10 Americans (www.huffingtonpost.com)


2. ^{^} number of negative health issues (www.huffingtonpost.com)


3. ^{^} 17 percent of the population (www.huffingtonpost.com)


4. ^{^} teach yoga (www.huffingtonpost.com)


5. ^{^} travel the world (www.huffingtonpost.com)