Stay Healthy with Deskercise!

If you don’t have enough time to actually go to the gym, but you still want to get a workout in, there is one place that you spend a lot of your time where you’ve probably never even considered working out: work!

More and more people are starting to “deskercise” at their place of employment. Not only does it allow you to squeeze a workout into your day and get paid for it, it helps keep you alert and focused throughout the day so you can be more productive at your job. Check out this list of exercises that you can do at your desk and try one the next time you start feeling sleepy at work!

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  Go for a walk around the office to reenergize yourself and get your blood pumping.

  Take the stairs. If your office isn’t on the first floor, or even if there are stairs in your building, walk them. Take the stairs to get into work every morning, or walk them during your break.

• Do a wall sit. Stand with your back against a sturdy wall and slowly slide your back down the wall until your thighs are at a 90 degree angle with the ground, making sure your knee doesn’t extend past your toe. Hold this position for as long as you can. For an added workout, try crossing your left ankle over your knee and vice versa while you hold the position.
• Swivel your chair. Sit in your chair and lift your feet slightly off the floor with the tips of your fingers on the edge of your desk. Use your abs to slowly twist to the left and to the right while tightening your core for this deskercise. Try doing 10 sets of twists three times throughout the day.
• Stand while you work. While standing isn’t exactly exercise, studies have shown that standing can burn up to 50 calories an hour more than sitting which can translate to 30,000 calories or 8 pounds of fat eat year.
• Squeeze your seat. This exercise is one that you can do well below the radar while you work to sculpt your rear. Just squeeze your buttocks together and hold for 5-10 seconds, repeating as often as you’d like until your glutes get tired.
• Do some modified push-ups. Since your work clothes most likely aren’t conducive to exercise, try doing them in a different manner. Stand about a foot and a half away from a sturdy wall and lean forward until your palms are touching the wall with your arms parallel to the floor. Bend your elbows to bring you closer to the wall, and straighten them to bring you upright again. Do this for 10-15 pushups.
• Work your abs. This exercise can also be done under the radar while you sit at your desk. Inhale deeply and tighten your abs as you exhale, holding for about 10 seconds. Repeat until your abs get tired.
• Channel your inner genie. Try sitting in your chair with your legs crossed criss-cross-applesauce style. Put your hands on the armrests and push up until you raise your body up off of the seat, holding the position for about 15 seconds before returning to your chair, resting, and repeating.