Reduce tension and feel the benefits of a desk-friendly, full-body stretch that targets every muscle group. We spend roughly nine hours a day sitting. When work, life, ageing or mobility issues get in the way of us standing up to do aerobic exercise, it’s a relief to know that chair-based exercise is good for us.
In fact, regularly getting active from your seat can lead to improvements in balance, gait speed, grip strength and other physical measurements, according to a study published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health . Repeating simple seated movements will raise your heart rate and burn calories. “Being able to move the body while sitting on a chair brings so many benefits to the body, mind and mood,” says Nadia Narain, a leading yoga and breathwork specialist.
That’s not to say you need to work up a sweat from your seat. “Simply sitting in your chair, focusing on your breathing and moving your body, even in a slight way, promotes blood and oxygen flow. It also supports lymphatic drainage, as well as calming the nervous system and releasing the physical tension that office workers may experience.
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