5 quick desk stretches to ease stiffness

Yoga trainer Anadi Sharma said that stiffness mainly occurs due to lack of movement, which reduces blood circulation, leading to muscle tightness, poor posture, repetitive strain, dehydration, and fatigue.

Here are five easy stretches you can do at your desk. But first, observe if your shoulders, jaw and eyes are stiff. If yes, take a deep breath and relax them. Once done, do the following:

1. Neck stretch: Tilt your head to one side, bringing your ear toward your shoulder. Hold for 10 seconds, then switch sides.

2. Shoulder roll: Roll your shoulders forward and backward in slow circles to release tension and improve posture.

3. Seated Spinal Twist: Sit upright, twist your torso to one side, and place your hand on the opposite knee. Hold for 30 seconds, then switch sides to relieve lower back strain.

Try these simple stretches at your work desk (Source: Freepik)

4. Wrist and finger stretch: Extend your arm with the palm facing up and gently pull back your fingers. Then, flip your palm down and pull again to ease strain from prolonged typing.

5. Seated Hamstring stretch: Extend one leg, reach forward while keeping your back straight, and hold for 20 seconds. Switch legs to loosen tight hamstrings from long hours of sitting.

“In case you are in a long meeting? Sit upright, clasp your hands behind your back, and hold for 15 seconds to straighten your posture and relieve muscle strain. Also, remember to hydrate yourself throughout. Drink like you eat and eat like you drink,” Sharma said.