One of the things I enjoy about my new job is that I actually have the opportunity to not only teach yoga, but to blog as part of my job!
I recently wrote a post on “Desk Yoga” for our work blog and thought I’d share it here since I’m sure many of you work desk jobs and could benefit from some of these poses!
Unfortunately many of us spend hours each day sitting at a desk, which can have negative effects on personal health. In addition to just getting up and standing or walking around periodically, there are some great stretches you can do sitting right at your desk!
Hold each of these poses for 10-15 seconds and then repeat on the other side.
Desk Downward Dog
Place hands on your desk in front of you shoulder width apart. Push your chair back until you feel a gentle stretch in your shoulders and back.
Seated Twist
Begin seated in your chair with both feet firmly placed on the ground. Twist at the waist in one direction placing your opposite hand on your upper leg to assist you in the twist.
Seated Pigeon
Beginning seated at your desk and cross one leg over the other, ankle to knee as show in the picture below. You should feel a gentle stretch in your hip and piriformis. To deepen the stretch, gently fold forward.
Seated Triangle Forward Fold
Move forward towards the edge of your seat. Keep one leg bent with your foot planted on the ground and extend the other leg out straight with your heel on the ground and toe pointed up. You should feel a gentle stretch in the hamstring of your straight leg. To deepen the stretch, slowly fold forward.
Eagle Arms
Sit straight up in your chair and cross your arms placing the elbow of one arm into the bend of the other arm as show in the picture below. If it’s comfortable on your shoulders bring the back of your hands together and lift your elbows for a stretch across your shoulders and upper back.
Don’t let sitting at a desk keep you from staying healthy and active!
Get up and take a short walk and get in a quick stretch with some desk yoga!
Disclaimer: This post originally appeared on the Mashpee Fitness Blog.
Any other yoga type of posts you’d like to see? More yoga for runners? A specific part of the body you’re interested in? My dad’s a doctor and I know he’s requested some operating room yoga! : )
Live, Run, Grow 
You get to teach AND blog about Yoga at your job? Wow, that place really is perfect for you! So glad it’s working out!
Oh yeah, I will def be trying these…but I might have to wait until lunchtime when there’s no one around to be like “what the hell are you doing?” 🙂
Seriously, LOVE my new job : )
This is great! I recently got a convertible stand up/sit down workstation, but even so, I get sore. I’ll have to incorporate some of these. But, like Kellie said, I’ll have to wait until no one is around…
I also got a stand up/sit down Varidesk. It’s awesome!
That’s awesome, I would have loved to have a convertible desk like that at my old job! Fortunately now I work on my feet all day which I love!
I’m bookmarking this! So. Many. Hours. At. Desk.