Sitting at a desk and staring at a computer screen is energy-draining. Try these five yoga poses for a midday feel good stretch that will leave you tension-free and energized.
- Seated Backbend
While seated with a straight spine take a deep breath and reach all the way up to the ceiling with your arms shoulder-width apart or wider. As you exhale, let your gaze slowly draw behind you and bend slightly from your upper back and chest. Hold this for a few seconds, release arms to your sides, then repeat a few times.
- Simple Seated Twist
Sit in your chair with your spine tall and straight. Take an inhale and on the exhale, twist to one side from the bottom of your spine (more from your abdomen, less from your back) grabbing your armrest. Breathe here for a few seconds, then do the other side.
- Eagle arms
Reach your hands up, intertwining them, if possible, or else have the back of your hands meet. Lift elbows away from the chest, bringing your upper arms parallel with the floor. Stay in this position or fold forward.
- Seated pigeon (figure 4)
With your feet flat on the floor, bring a flexed right foot on top of the left knee, working to bring the right knee parallel with the floor.
- Shoulder Opener
Scoot your chair out and stand a few feet from your desk so just your hands can touch. Drop your head between your arms to achieve a good shoulder stretch.