ON THE ROAD AGAIN, SHOULDER SHRUGS AND CIRCLES
Sitting all day without moving harms your health.
Read this blog post to learn why.
"Shoulder Shrugs and Circles" is an easy exercise that you can do right at your work station, from my book Fitness 9 to 5.
Everything you do for YOU matters. Here’s a one-minute exercise.
Each activity is a mindful movement—a power pause to boost presence.
By focusing 100% on what you’re doing, you’re improving your skill of being present. Getting out of your thoughts, paying attention to your body and breath: this stops overthinking and helps you start living now. Fully enjoy your mindful moment as you get and stay healthy.
Start your day with what I call “On the Road Again Shoulder Shrugs and Circles”. Fun names make exercises more fun!
Traffic causes tension; it’s unavoidable. Many people store tension in the neck and shoulder area. Loosen up tight shoulders with these shoulder shrugs and circles. Combining regular stretching and strengthening exercises with paying attention to good posture will relieve chronic muscle tightness that can lead to back pain and tension headaches.
Sit upright with shoulders relaxed and hands on steering wheel (at your sides if you’re in a chair).
Inhale to prepare. Exhale, as you lift shoulders up toward ears, squeezing muscles in your upper back, neck, and shoulders. Inhale, as you hold the position.
Exhale, as you drop shoulders, relaxing muscles. Repeat 3x.
For the next ONE minute, breathe deeply as you lift shoulders up, back, down, and around, making exaggerated shoulder circles and releasing muscular tension.
This exercise takes about ONE minute. Repeat again in the car on the way home or during your work day in your chair at your desk, because YOU are worth it!
(excerpts from Fitness 9 to 5: Easy Exercises for the Working Week)
© 2020 Shirley Archer All Rights Reserved
This video combines a few exercises. Go to :30 to skip intro and start exercising immediately.
Here is another video for a 5 Minute Tension Relieving Shoulder Self-Massage to help tight shoulders.
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