by Renata Luchyshyna
Now more than ever is an important time to get moving! Don’t let being stuck at your desk all day prevent you from getting some exercise into your routine. Recommendations are to stand up and move at least once an hour when sitting for long periods of time. Just follow these 10 easy deskercises to get that blood pumping and those muscles working!
1. Shake it Out!
Feeling stressed? Take 30 seconds and shake out every part of your body! Sometimes all you need to do is a little seated dancing to get refocused.
2. Shoulder Shrug
If you need to relieve some tension in your shoulders. Take a deep breath in while raising your shoulders up towards your ears, tensing everything as hard as you can. Hold for 5 seconds then release, allowing everything to relax. Repeat 10 times.
3. Neck Stretches
Tilt your head forward so that your chin nearly rests on your chest. For a deeper stretch, place your hands on the back of your head and gently pull down. Hold there for 15 seconds. Next tilt your head to one side so that your ear almost touches your shoulder and gently pull your head deeper into the stretch with your hand if you’d like. Rest there for 15 seconds. Don’t forget to do the other side too.
4. Chair Squats
Sitting on the edge of your chair, stand up and sit back down with your arms straight out in front of you. Make sure your knees aren’t covering your toes and your backside is sticking out. Repeat 15 times.
5. Knee Raise
Sit on the edge of your seat, plant one foot flat on the ground and bring the knee of the other foot to your chest. Hold there for 30 seconds then switch legs.
6. Chair Dips
Holding onto your chair from both sides, slide to the front edge. Start with your legs extended and arms straight, dip down by bending your arms and push yourself back up. Repeat 10 times. Make sure you’re using a non-rolling chair!
7. Wooden Leg
Start by fully straightening one of your legs in front of you and flexing your foot. Hold there for 5 seconds, then switch legs. Repeat 10 times on both legs.
8. Chest Stretch
Sitting or standing up straight (preferably standing) interlock your fingers behind your back, straighten your arms and puff your chest out. Hold here for 15 seconds or tilt slowly from side to side.
9. Quad Stretch
Standing up, bend your knee back and grab onto your ankle with one hand. Bringing your foot in as much as you can and hold there for 30 seconds before switching legs. Hold onto your chair for balance if necessary.
10. Seated Crunches
Sitting on the edge of your seat, hold onto your chair from both sides and bring your legs off the ground. Straighten your legs out as far as you can then bring them into your body into a crunching position then straighten out again. Repeat 10-15 times.