How stretch breaks improve your day

Why?

The body will benefit from the break from sitting down long stints at the time. It reboots your brain ( gets to breathe a bit) It’s hard to believe you can get injuries from sitting at a desk but you can. Our bodies need movement to function properly. Movement also stimulates creativity whatever that means for you. It can be how to write that email to an important client, how to handle a difficult situation, need to come up with a marketing idea. The list of positives can be made longer but there are no negatives.

When?

Ideally, I would say 3 times during the working day. Can be morning, lunch and afternoon. Include it as a mini-break when you are getting a cup of tea or coffee and before you head out for lunch. Ore if you get stuck with a certain task take 5 min stretch out and go back to it. This is just suggestions and may not suit everyone but it gives you an idea of how to incorporate more movement. 

Where?

Touched on it in the when? Section. For most people, it would be in the office. Perhaps at their desk. But It can be anywhere you feel is best for you. Some may work from home some spend their days driving around to locations, some are on their feet most of the day. It can be done anywhere.  Of course, dropping down into a downward-facing dog is not an option for most during the working day and its not necessary. Small exercises that are easy and adaptable is the way to go. Below I have given some suggestions.

• Seated glute stretch ( sit on a chair or similar. Bring one foot up and rest it on the opposite knee. Try and sit upright, if you want more stretch tilt forward in the hips)
• High lunge (stand in a lunge keep the hips tucked,  try and straighten the back knee hold 2 sec and repeat 5x each leg)
• Back twist (sit down reach over to on thigh with the opposite hand and look over the shoulder release and repeat on the either to a total of 6 reps)
• Chest stretch (you can stay seated but if you can, stand up. Interlace your fingers behind your back and try too straighten your arms behind you and potentially lift up for more intense stretch)