The following is a guest post by RRC Polytech’s Fitness Coordinator, Mario De Negri

Most of us have to sit for long periods because of our work or school. When we sit for long periods of time it becomes easy to let our posture slip into a position that has us slouching or hunching forward which can lead to sore muscles and an aching body. Unfortunately, with the increase of work that requires us to be sitting, we can find ourselves deskbound for most of the day and sometimes long into the evening. However, by taking short breaks from sitting, we can help increase our cardiovascular function, increasing our life expectancy! Incorporating stretching throughout the day will also help increase your blood flow and improve your posture.

It is important to find reasons to get up from the chair and incorporate extra movement in our routines to minimize body stiffness and pain. A general rule of thumb is for every 60-90 minutes of sitting, we should get up and try to move for a minimum of 20 minutes. The longer we remain seated, the harder it will feel to get up and move. Movement does not mean we have to go for a long run or head to the gym. Increasing our activity can be as simple as doing a few stretches to switch up our routine.

So, if you find yourself having to be deskbound for long periods at a time, take a few of these easy stretches and put them in your pocket to use throughout the day. They require no equipment, take very little space, and can even be done while sitting in your chair.

Click here to find 7 simple stretching exercises you can do while sitting at your desk.