Exercises You Can Perform at Your Standing Desk
If you’re like many office workers, you probably spend most of your day sitting at a desk. The sedentary nature of desk work can have negative effects on your health, including poor posture, back pain, and even an increased risk of heart disease. To combat these negative effects, many people have turned to standing desks. But standing all day can be tiring too. The good news is that there are plenty of exercises you can perform at your standing desk to help you stay moving and healthy throughout the day.
1. Calf raises: Standing with your feet shoulder-width apart, raise your heels a few inches off the ground and then lower them back down. Repeat for 15-20 reps. This exercise strengthens your calves, which are important for maintaining good posture and stability.
2. Squats: Standing with your feet shoulder-width apart, bend your knees and lower your body as if you were sitting in an imaginary chair. Make sure your knees don’t go past your toes. Repeat for 15-20 reps. This exercise strengthens your leg muscles and helps improve posture.
3. Standing hip flexor stretch: Stand with one foot in front of the other, as if you were taking a big step forward. Keep your back leg straight and bend your front knee, lowering your body until you feel a stretch in your hip flexor. Hold for 30 seconds and then switch legs. This exercise stretches your hip flexors, which can become tight from extended periods of sitting.
4. Shoulder rolls: Roll your shoulders forward and then back, making big circles with your arms. Repeat for 10-15 reps. This exercise helps relieve tension in your shoulders and neck, which can become tight from hunching over a desk.
5. Desk dips: Stand facing away from your desk with your hands on the edge of the desk, fingers facing forward. Lower your body by bending your elbows and then push back up. Repeat for 10-15 reps. This exercise strengthens your triceps and chest muscles.