Sitting for long periods of time, say eight hours a day, five days a week (just an example!), can leave you stiff and achy. I asked Toronto-based yoga instructor Hetal Patel for some stretches that can alleviate soreness that comes from sitting at a desk all day.
“Desk yoga is also great if you are constantly walking throughout the day; the impact on your spine from taking heavy, quick steps as you rush from place to place can be detrimental if you don’t stretch properly,” she says.
Hold each pose for 10 to 15 seconds, and while doing so, make sure to breathe deeply through the nose.
- Raise your arms above your head and gently interlace the fingers. Your biceps should be beside your ears and your shoulders should be down. Lean to your right until you feel a gentle stretch on your left side, hold. Return to centre and repeat on left side.
- Sitting up straight with your knees bent at a 90-degree angle, cross your right leg over the left so that the right ankle is just hanging over the left knee. Keeping your back straight and chest up, gently lean forward until you feel a stretch in the right glute and hip. Hold, then lean back and repeat on other side. For stability you can rest your hands on the leg that’s being stretched.
- Sitting up straight in your chair, place your left hand at the back corner of the chair beside your left hip. Place your right hand across your body and rest it on the middle of your left thigh. Gently twist to the left and hold. Return to centre and repeat on right side.
From: Pep-Talk