In Rhythms Yoga: Monday Morning Yoga Pose

Create movement, relieve tension and stress, try yoga in the office while sitting in your chair! 

Every 60-90 minutes sitting at your desk or while working on the computer, it is good to get up and move! Instead of grabbing for a cup of coffee, try these very accessible chair stretches to bring blood flow to the body and brain, while working out the tension in the back, neck and shoulders, and bring more awareness to creating healthier posture while sitting in a chair while at work. 

Chair Cat and Cow Pose: Come to the edge of your seat. Place the soles of the feet on the floor, hip-width distance apart and stacked under your knees. Place your palms on your thighs, towards your knees. 

Cow: on a deep inhalation, gaze at the ceiling, lift the chest, extend through the spine and stick out your belly.Simultaneously press your tailbone and buttocks away. Pull the shoulders blades back and down, away from the midline of your body. Your back will look concave and your tailbone will stick out. Pause at the top of the inhale and enjoy this feeling of opening the front line of the body.

Cat Pose: on a deep exhalation, begin to arch the back by pulling in the belly, tucking the tail and tucking the chin to chest, gaze down at the navel, shoulder blades move forward. Pause at the bottom of exhalation and feel the back line of the body opening up. 

Continue this movement with the breath from cow to cat at least 5 full rounds of breath, inhalation and exhalation with the movements. “Chase” or follow the breath as you move. Option to close your eyes to take a short detour from the day’s events and tune inward towards your heart. Accentuate each breath and movement, slowing and deepening on each breath. 

Doing office yoga will allow you to work more productively by bringing fresh blood flow to the body, and it will bring a little more joy and stress relief to your work day. You may find that creating a new routine, and adding chair yoga to your workday, may inspire your coworkers and colleagues too!

Check with your doctor before beginning any exercise including yoga. If you begin to feel discomfort, gently come out. 

Namaste,
Christi Iacono
In Rhythms Yoga
www.inrhythmsyoga.com