Desk Stretches

Promote good health and reduce stress in the workplace. Teach your employees these quick exercises that can be performed at their workstation to reduce stress and rejuvenate.

1. Shoulder Shrug
a. On inhale, lift your shoulders up to your ears.
b. Exhale and let your shoulders drop.

2. Reach-Up
a. Stand on the floor or sit tall in your chair.
b. Stretch your arms overhead and interlock your fingers.
c. Turn you palms to the ceiling.
d. Take a deep breath and on the exhale stretch to the right.
e. Inhale and come up and exhale stretch to the left.

3. Reach-Back
a. Take your hands behind your back and interlock your fingers.
b. Stretch your shoulders back, opening the chest.
c. Take several deep breaths then relax and release your hands.

4. Forearm Stretch
a. Stand by your desk.
b. Place your palms on the desk with your fingers pointing
     toward your body.
c. Gently stretch the lower arm and wrist.

5.Shoulder Pull
a. Reach the right arm in the air.
b. Bend the elbow and reach your fingers down your back,
     between the shoulder blades.
c. Place the left hand on the right elbow and on an exhale, gently
    pull the elbow to the left.
d. Relax and hold for several breaths.
e. Release and repeat on the other side.

6. Torso Twist
a. Sit up straight in a chair with your feet firmly on the ground.
b. Twist to the right and place one hand on the back of the chair
     and the other hand on the side of the chair.
c. Hold for a few breaths then release.
d. Repeat on the other side.

7. Bend-Over
a. Sit forward in a chair with your legs a little wider than your hips.
b. Lean forward from the hips and drop your torso down.
c. Let the head and arms hang down toward the floor and hold
    for a few breaths.

8. Eye Relaxer
a. Sit upright on a chair.
b. Relax your shoulders and face forward.
c. Relax your facial muscles, jaw and tongue.
d. Circle your eyes clockwise 8 times and counterclockwise 8 times.
e. Close your eyes and breathe deeply for a few slow breaths.

These exercises will help your employees stay fresh and focused. For more information, call Dunn Wellness Center at (904) 249-1551.