Do you spend many hours working at your desk, enduring tension, stress, aches and pains with little to no relief? It might be time to consider desk yoga.
In today’s fast paced work culture our days are filled with a never ending to do list and considerable amounts of time at your desk staring at a computer screen. With that being said, it can be really difficult to find the time to take a break and practice self care to relieve stress and tension in the body and mind. Many people believe that taking a break entails carving out a significant amount of time for themselves that might be difficult to justify. It really isn’t necessary to take a long break in order to receive the benefits you need to reboot.
I want to introduce the concept of microbreaks if you haven’t heard of them already. Microbreaks are brief breaks ranging from 1-5 minutes, giving you a short burst of time off from your task to help you refresh your body, mind and spirit. You can do many different things during a microbreak and desk yoga is a perfect option.
What is desk yoga?
Desk yoga, also known as chair yoga or office yoga, is a convenient way for you to incorporate movement and relaxation into your day, right at your workstation. By doing simple stretches and poses seated right at your desk, you can receive numerous benefits without expending energy by needing to go anywhere. Here are five reasons to do yoga at your desk.
5 benefits of desk/chair yoga
Prevent aches and pains
Sitting at your desk in the same position creates tightness in your muscles, creating aches and pains. Stretching and opening your body will help you feel less stiff, providing relief and preventing discomfort.
Alleviate stress and anxiety
Unplugging from your computer and tasks by doing something relaxing and uplifting, helps you feel more calm and positive.
Move stagnant energy in the body
Sitting at your desk all day can be a very sedentary lifestyle. Yoga and any type of movement helps to move the energy in your body helping with circulation and boosting your energy levels keeping you fresh and revitalized throughout your day.
Improve concentration and focus
By briefly taking a break from your task and giving attention to your body and breath, you’re able to refocus your attention and relax your mind and body, helping you recenter and focus on the task at hand.
Improve wellbeing
Taking breaks to tend to your body, mind and spirit throughout your busy workday is practicing self care and self care is the only way to maintain your overall health and wellbeing.
Deepen your breath and open your side body with this brief desk yoga side stretch:
Check out my YouTube channel for more Desk Yoga videos.
