No time to workout - Try these exercises at your desk

These days, it seems like everyone is working more hours and using the old "no-time-to-exercise" excuse more than ever. Office jobs can be so stressful. Desk jobs aren't always the piece of cake jobs that most people assume they are. Sitting all day with your legs cramped is very hard on your body. Most office workers end up eating at their desk, answering the phone while at lunch, which is like adding an extra hour to their day. The best thing that you can do for yourself, is to take a couple of 15 minute breaks throughout the day. It will give your body time to recharge. Walk a bit, go get something to drink and move!

Here are a few exercises that you can do throughout your day that may help relieve stress, un cramp your legs and tone.

Check out this video giving demo of few exercises at your desk.

Side Stretches: To help whittle your waist and keep your spine aligned and supple, side stretches are excellent exercises to do at your desk. With your arms raised over your head or akimbo with your hands on your hips, lean gently over to each side as far as you can safely go. Please use caution if your chair is unstable or if it is on wheels. You can do this a few times on each side at several times through out the day.

Arm Raises: In order to help protect against carpal tunnel syndrome, poor circulation, and weight gain, you should do arm raises several times a day. There are different methods of doing these simple exercises: raising your arms straight over your head, raising them to the sides, or even behind you. Each method works a different set of muscles, and all will temporarily increase your heart rate, keeping your metabolism revving.

Butt Squeezes: The easiest exercise that you can do at your desk is butt squeezes. You can even do them while you are on the phone or typing up a report. Simply squeeze and release your buttocks muscles several times. This is the number one exercise that will help prevent "office chair spread" of your hindquarters.

Calf Stretch: Remove your shoes and place your feet flat on the floor with your knees slightly apart. Bring your toes up towards the front of your legs while keeping your heels on the floor. This will help iron kinks out of your calves.

Straight & Narrow - Sit up straight in your chair. Take note of how you sit throughout the day. If you're slumping a lot, try to practice correcting your posture. Good posture makes one look thinner.

Arch: While sitting up arrow straight, bring your lower tummy towards forward until you feel your back arch. Next, reverse the motion. This will help relieve back pressure.

Leg Lifts: Of course, these are not the type of leg lifts that have you lying down on the floor and swinging your legs around. At your desk, you can easily straighten your knees and lift your legs out in front of you. You can also march with your feet in place. This will exercise the large muscles in your legs. For easy calf exercises, you can raise your feet up on the toes and lower them. Be sure to use your muscles when you do these exercises for maximum effect.

Many of the exercises already described here will really help to relieve stress of your desk job. However, there are some other great stress relief exercises you can do at your desk. Gently stretching your neck, or rolling your head around, will reduce neck and upper back stress. Lifting your arms in front of you and bending your hands up and down at the wrist will help to relieve the stress of typing and help prevent carpal tunnel syndrome. So from tomorrow don't make any excuse and try these movements at your desk and also advise all your colleague and friends. You will see the benefits in no time!

 

(Source: about .com)