Yoga in the Office

Doing yoga in the office can be fun, innovative and relaxing with many long term benefits. Prolonged work on the computer strains the neck, shoulder and back muscles, which leads to tension and stiffness. Unless attended to properly, it could impact your ability to function effectively at the workplace, affecting your overall quality of life. Office yoga comprises of a sequence of simple exercises you can perform quite unobtrusively at your desk, at any time of the day.

Making office yoga exercises a part of your routine can work wonders as they wipe away body pain, fatigue and tension and increase overall muscle strength and flexibility, keeping you fresh and revitalized through the day. The exercises don’t demand much time, and can be done in spurts throughout the day, sparing you from unnecessary discomfort in the long run.

Suggestion: If you are wearing tight, uncomfortable footwear remove them before starting the stretches. You may also wish to loosen your tie and belt.

Here are a five office yoga exercises you could try for a start.

Neck Roll

1. Close your eyes.
2. Let your chin drop down to your chest.
3. Begin the circular motion of your neck slowly, by moving the right ear to the right shoulder, taking the head backwards and then bringing the left ear to the left shoulder.
4. Keep your shoulders loose and relax.
5. Rotate your neck 3-5 times and then switch directions.

Cow Stretch

1. Keep your feet on the floor.
2. Bring both hands on your knees.
3. While inhaling, stretch your back backwards and look towards the ceiling.
4. While exhaling, stretch your back forward and drop your head forward.
5. Repeat this exercise for 3-5 breaths.

Seated Forward Bend

1. Push your chair away from your desk.
2. Remaining seated, keep your feet flat on the floor.
3. Take your arms behind the lower back, keep your back straight and interlace your fingers behind your back.
4. Bending forward from the waist, bring your interlaced hands over your back.
5. Rest your chest on your thighs and relax your neck.

Eagle Arms

1. Stretch your arms straight in front of your body and parallel to the floor. Palms facing the ceiling.
2. Cross your right arm over the left (bend your arm slightly at the elbow if needed). Bring both palms together.
3. Lift both elbows. The shoulders slide down your back.
4. Repeat this exercise with the left arm over the right.

Seated Spinal Twist

1. Sit sideways in your chair.
2. Place your feet flat on the floor.
3. Holding the back of the chair with both hands, twist your waist to the right towards the back of the chair.
4. Turn to the other side. Repeat this exercise a few more times.

Temple Rub

1. Keep your elbows on your desk and place your hands on your temples.
2. With small circular motions gently rub your temples first clockwise and then anti-clockwise.
3. Do this for 10 – 15 long deep breaths.

From: The Art of Living