The benefits to stretching at work.
If you work full time at a desk you know all to well the physical and mental challenges. Physically we feel tighter and our shoulders, back and neck can ache. Mentally, it’s a long time for us to be at a desk - we need fresh air, natural body movement and sunshine!
There are some simple things that you can do to feel better, like taking regular breaks, going for a walk at lunch time and stretching.
Depending on the culture at your workplace you may be hesitant to stretch at your desk, but here are a few reasons why regular stretching is a good idea:
The improvement in your muscle flexibility. It is very common for most of us to experience tight hips, back, neck and shoulders from desk work, but through gentle daily stretching, you can reduce this tension and tightness!
Stretching increases our energy and reduces stress. By stepping away from our desk to stretch between or during work activities we can improve our focus, energy, and productivity. Stretching in general acts as a powerful form of stress relief and boosts our mood lifting hormones.
Blood circulation is boosted through stretching. As soon as we sit down circulation is reduced to our legs and the number of calories we burn drops drastically. Adding daily stretching will increase blood flow and supply of vital nutrients to our bodies reducing the impact from sitting.
If you’re unsure of what stretches you can do at work, download our free PDF of 6 simple stretches you can do at your desk.
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Hello, I’m Jodie. I’m the owner of Soul Flexible and I’ve been teaching mindful movement for well over 10 years. In my blog I share my insights into the practice of Pilates, yoga and general wellbeing.