3 yoga poses you can do in your chair

Just because you’re stuck in your office or cubicle all day doesn’t mean you can’t do a little yoga!

You might be thinking – why would I want to do yoga at the office?

How about to have more energy, soothe your aching back and sore shoulders, and even have a little more pep in your step? So many suffer from sitting down for 8+ hours at a time – sometimes not even taking breaks for lunch or short walk around the office!

All that sitting makes for an unhappy body (also applies to sitting on the couch, btw). Take a moment and notice how your body tends to be while at your desk.

It’s likely in a forward slouching position with your neck and shoulders slumped over as you clickety-clack type away on your keyboard (no matter if you’re furiously crunching numbers for your boss or scrolling through Facebook for weekend pics).

This position puts undue stress on your neck, shoulders, and entire spine.

The weight of your head (and it’s HEAVY) is to thank for much of this discomfort. Your body is designed so that your head is to be directly on top of your spine and hips just like when standing up tall or sitting up straight in your chair.

The further forward our heads are away from our tall spines (as when typing on our computers), the bigger the ouch factor.

Even if you don’t feel immediate discomfort right now, just give it a few years or decades and then the damage will have already been done.

So what’s an office mate to do?

Yoga, of course. I even donned my glasses to seem more professional for you. You’re welcome.

1. Half Moon Pose

Scoot your chair away from your desk by about a foot and sit up nice and tall. Extend your hands overhead and grab your left wrist with your right hand.

Use your right hand to gently pull your left wrist up and over your head so that you feel a nice side body stretch along your left side. Hold for a few breaths and then repeat on the other side.

2. Seated Twist

Keep your chair out from your desk and maintain your straight spine. Look to your right and place your right hand on your right armrest or the back corner of your backrest.

Your left hand can rest on your right thigh. As you breathe in, lengthen your spine. As you breathe out, gently twist your body to the right using your arms as slight leverage. Repeat this a couple times and then slowly release back to center. Repeat on left side.

3. Chest Expansion

Perhaps my absolute favorite. Scootch out until your on the edge of your seat with your feet flat on the floor.

Interlace your hands behind your back (if this isn’t doable for you, just grab a scarf, cardigan or even ruler and hold that behind your back w/ each hand). As you inhale, puff up your chest and draw your fingers down towards your chair in opposition.

Hold for a few breaths and then slowly release.

That’s it! See, yoga can be super simple and yes, you can do it anywhere. In the time it takes for a query to run or for your boss to email you back, you can make your body feel oh-so much better and support a healthy strong spine.

Right now, try at least one of the above and then leave me a comment letting me know how your shoulders, neck, back and body feel! 

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