Yoga For The Work Cubicle

When you leave work do you ever check in with your body to see how it is feeling? Are parts of your body achy or in pain? Do you leave work exhausted and stressed from the troubles of your day?

It is common knowledge that office workers have many body issues because their bodies are put into compromising positions for such large portions of their day, and because they are so stressed from their daily tasks.

Your body requires movement that allows muscles to stretch and release toxins. When you are stressed your muscles become tight, this puts even more strain on your body. This strain on your body hinders your health.

Now not everyone has the time during their work day to break and go do an exercise class for an hour. Although that option is ideal,  there are things that you can do during your work day that will help release stress, facilitate movement, and improve health.

One option is doing yoga at your desk.What, Yoga? At work? You may be envisioning a zen room filled with yoga mats and people chanting “om,” and you wonder how you can do yoga in your tiny work cubicle. However there are many yoga postures you can do just sitting at your desk.

Here are several yoga postures that will help you release all that stress and tension you are holding in your body, in turn improving your health:

For the first yoga posture: when you are seated in your chair, sit up as though the tip of your head is being pulled up to the ceiling by a thread. Sit up as tall as you can and feel all the spinal vertebrae fall into place.

This will allow your spine to form into its most stable state and force you to have correct posture. Having correct posture will relieve much of the stress that incorrect spinal arrangement puts on your back. Once you are seated, relax your shoulders and try and pull your shoulder blades together.

While holding your body in this position, breath in through your nose and try and push your stomach out as though you are filling it with air. Hold for a few seconds then exhale. During the exhale, pull your belly button in as though you are trying to stick it to your spine. Repeat 3 to 4 times.

Remember to keep your shoulders relaxed. This breathing posture is the basis for yoga, and it will help relieve much of the tension and stress you hold in your head, neck, and back during your work day.

In the next yoga posture, sit up in your work chair. You can put your hands on your thighs, pull your belly button in towards your spinal cord, and begin to round your spine forward. Let your head dangle between your thighs.

Once you are here let your body come forward, and reach with your hands for your feet or the floor. You want to invert your body; bring your head below your hips. Hold here for a count of 3 and release.

Holding (inverting ) your body in this way helps get blood flowing through your system, flushes toxins out, and brings new blood into your muscles. The rounding of your spine helps stretch all 3 parts of your spinal cord to release tension that causes chronic back issues.

There is no excuse for not providing time for yourself during the work day. These yoga postures take less than 5 minutes to do. If done continuously over a period of time they will help prevent chronic work place injuries that are painful, and difficult to treat.

In addition, yoga will lower your work stress levels, improving your immune system, and allowing you to feel healthier. If you feel healthier you will be more focused and efficient at work! It takes very little to ensure your well-being, and your well-being should be priceless!