Sitting at office desks all day can be detrimental to your health. No matter how well you set up your workspace or how perfect your chair is, you’re still going to get stiff sitting still for long periods staring at your screen. Headaches, sore necks and back pain are common complaints for office workers.
Thankfully you can move body to keep everything in working order without even leaving your desk. A few modified yoga poses can keep your muscles and joints working properly and give you more energy for your work. But don’t worry – they’re subtle enough to stop funny looks from your co-workers!
Do the twist
Sitting with your feet flat on the floor about hip-width apart, turn from the waist and put your hands on the arm of your chair. Hold for a few seconds then repeat on the other side. For maximum benefit, breathe in facing forward and exhale as you twist.
Bend over backwards
Sit up tall and take a deep breath in. Raise your arms above your head and, with your palms facing upwards, lace your fingers together. Breathe out and gently let your hands drop behind your head with your arms straight and lean into the stretch for a gentle bend in your upper back between your shoulders. Bring your hands back above your head and then slowly back down on to your lap.
Shoulder the burden
Move your chair back and stand facing your desk with your feet a little wider than hip-width apart. Place your palms down on the edge of the desk and breathe out as you bend forward from the waist, dipping your head a little lower than the level of the desk. Hold for a couple of seconds before coming back up to a standing position. This will put your shoulders back into alignment after hunching over your keyboard and decompress your back and chest. If anyone asks, you’ve dropped your pen!
Doing these few stretches a couple of times a day will keep you feeling in tip-top shape and keep those desk aches and pains at bay.
