5 yoga poses to combat WFH fatigue
From how we work to how we work out, our lifestyles have changed so completely over the last few months. Sitting at a makeshift desk all day is wreaking havoc with our bodies and finding the time (or, let’s be honest, the motivation) to exercise can be hard.
It inspired Clare to ask her yoga instructor Amanda Bucher to share quick and easy poses that you can do at home whenever you have some spare time to help combat the effects of hunching over a laptop. Here, Amanda shares a sequence of poses that will help stretch and strengthen your body, as well as provide a little mental break from the madness.
Practise these five yoga poses in order of sequence, on an empty stomach. Make sure you take care if you have any neck or lower back injuries, fever, high blood pressure or have had recent surgery.
Sarvangasana
(shoulder stand)Ideally use a blanket to support the shoulder area, with your chin relaxed and neck still, legs and feet upright using your abdominals and your back supported with flat palms, breathing deep. Helps to regulate metabolism and relieve mental sluggishness.
Halasana
(plough)Support your lower back with the palms of your hands whilst your legs drop back behind your head. Deep breathing essential in this pose, which will stretch and strengthen spinal muscles and open up the spinal discs, ease indigestion and stimulate your spleen and liver.
Matsyasana
(fish pose) Use a block or book as support for your thoracic area and head, with your arms and palms underneath bottom and weight pushing down. With your legs stretched out, take five deep breaths. This will increase lung capacity and is excellent for all parts of the spine after a day spent hunching over a desk.
Paschimottanasana
(sitting forward bend) Support under your knees or sit bones is effective in this pose. Your shoulders and upper body relax whilst your lower back and hamstrings are stretched. This stretches all the muscles in your back.
Ardha Matsyendrasana
(Half Spinal Twist) Sit upright, breathing into the twist. Make sure not to strain your neck muscles as you move your chest and abdominal area. This pose strengthens muscles deep in your back and improves posture.
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