Haryana to introduce five-minute daily Y-Break in industrial units

Haryana will introduce a voluntary daily five-minute Y-Break comprising yoga, pranayama and meditation across industrial units to promote employee well-being and reduce workplace stress. Each unit will train at least one employee per 50 workers to conduct sessions safely without disrupting operations

Chandigarh: A daily five-minute “Y-Break” or yoga break would be introduced in every industrial unit in Haryana with the aim of improving employees’ well-being and nurturing a productive and stress-free work environment.

The government, however, made it clear that participation will be voluntary. Industrial units have been asked to ensure that the five-minute sessions of yogasanas, pranayama and meditation techniques are conducted safely and without disrupting the normal functioning of workplaces.

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Each workplace will host yoga camps and training sessions, with at least one employee per 50 workers trained within a month to lead the sessions, Additional Chief Secretary, AYUSH Department, Dr Sumita Misra said here on Monday.

In industrial units operating in shifts, the programme provides for at least one trained employee for every group of 50 employees in each working shift, making the workplace yoga initiative applicable across shift operations as well, she said.

The programme follows Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini’s budget announcement 2026-27 proposing the observance of a daily five-minute Y-Break for the workforce across all industrial units in Haryana.

The AYUSH Department has written to the Industries and Commerce Department asking it to disseminate the advisory to all industrial units and industrial associations in Haryana with directions for time-bound implementation in accordance with the prescribed Standard Operating Procedure (SOP).

Misra said the General Manager, District Industries Centre (GM-DIC) in each district will coordinate with the District Ayurveda Officer to prepare a schedule of yoga camps and training sessions. This coordinated effort guarantees that every industrial unit in the district benefits from the programme, with Yoga Sahayaks guiding the process.

Within a month, each industrial unit will select one or two employees for training, ensuring at least one trained facilitator per 50 workers. These chosen employees, guided by ‘Yoga Sahayaks’, will soon lead Y-Break sessions right at their workplaces, she said. As part of the advisory, the workforce in the Industries and Commerce Department has been asked to voluntarily adopt and practise a five-minute Y-Break during working hours.

This initiative aims to uplift employees’ physical, mental, and emotional well-being, nurturing a healthier, more productive, and stress-free work environment. Misra said the Y-Break protocol is a “scientifically designed routine” consisting of simple yogasanas, pranayama and meditation techniques.

It can be performed at the workplace without requiring any special equipment or infrastructure. Created by the Ministry of AYUSH, the protocol is designed to help employees de-stress, recharge, and regain focus, boosting workplace efficiency, productivity, and overall well-being.

The advisory calls for making the Ministry of AYUSH’s Y-Break protocol accessible to employees and encouraging them to follow the prescribed sequence.

Employees are also to be encouraged to use the official Y-Break mobile application and instructional videos for guided practice. The advisory urges awareness campaigns to spotlight the health benefits of regular yoga and inspires workers to weave the Y-Break into their everyday routines.