Even if you have a desk job, it doesn’t mean you need to sit still all day.

Chair yoga is an excellent way to stretch your body and offers health benefits to people who have desk jobs or mobility issues, says Lisa Gaglione, a yoga instructor and Registered Nurse at the Grey Nuns Community Hospital.

“It’s a good way to take a break, to feel calm and relax, and feel good about yourself,” says Lisa. She adds that it is also good for reducing stress, improving strength and flexibility; all contribute to overall well-being.

Lisa says chair yoga can be done by most people, especially seniors and those with lower back or mobility issues. 

“You can do so much using a chair. Perhaps if you have been sitting or standing for a long time or if you are having a bad day, you can take 10 minutes of your lunch hour to do some simple postures in your work chair.”

Lisa recommends easy positions like simply sitting with good posture.

“Rather than slumping, you can just sit up. This way you’re already engaging muscles you normally don’t and, at the same time, you are strengthening your lower back.”

Being mindful of how we sit is good for our bodies, she says. “We tend to sit with rounded backs and shoulders rolling forward.  Instead of this, sit with your torso upright; ears stacked over shoulders and shoulders over hips. This way you’re engaging muscles you normally don’t and, at the same time, you are strengthening your lower back.”

Lisa adds that “if you want to keep your lower back healthy, you need to move away from your back rest and just sit up nice and tall. You can do this for 10 minutes every couple of hours.”

She emphasizes that being mindful of how we sit is good for our bodies.

Lisa says making the time to do a few yoga postures each day can help improve your strength and flexibility.