Friday, December 30, 2011

More exercises to do at your desk

As promised, here are some more exercises you can do at your desk while at work. As always, if any of these bother you, as in they really hurt to do, then please don't do them, but try another exercise.

Calves
  1. While sitting, lift up your legs onto the balls of your feet and then release.
  2. Continue until your legs and calves are tired.
  3. Repeat every 10-15 minutes for an hour.
Leg
  1. Holding abdominal muscles in, extend leg until it is level with hip.
  2. Hold for a few seconds and then repeat with other leg.
Hips
  1. While seated, lift one leg off the floor a few inches with knee bent.
  2. Hold for a few seconds and then repeat with the other leg.

Tuesday, December 27, 2011

Exercises you can do at your desk.

Our bodies were not made to be sitting at a desk for 8 hours a day.  Our bodies were designed for movement. Think about how stiff your body feels when you first wake up in the morning.  Now think about how fluid your body moves after you have gotten up and walked around a bit.  Movement of the body helps you to move your body.  Does that make sense to you?  Try these exercises while you are at work so you don't feel so stiff during the day.  You may actually be able to get more work done by taking small breaks to take care of yourself.
**If any of these exercises bother/hurt you to do, please don't do them.  


Wrists
  1. Extend your right arm in front of you placing your palms up.
  2. With your left hand, grab your right hand's fingers.
  3. Gently stretch your hand down, bending your wrist backwards. Stop when you start to feel the stretch in your forearm.  Hold for a few seconds, then gently let go. 
  4. Repeat with the other arm.
  5. Extend your right arm in front of you placing your palms down.
  6. With your left hand, grab your right hand's fingers.
  7. Gently stretch your hand down, bending your wrist forwards. Stop when you start to feel the stretch in your forearm (hairy side).  Hold for a few seconds, then gently let go. 
  8. Repeat with the other arm.
Wrists and Forearms
  1. Press palms of hands together in front of chest. Keep elbows bent and parallel to the floor.
  2. Gently bend wrists to the right and left.
  3. Repeat several times.
Back
  1. Sit straight in your chair and place your right arm behind your right hip.
  2. Twist to the right and hold for a few seconds.
  3. Switch to your left arm on your left hip and repeat.

I'll post more exercises soon!