HBR Guides to Emotional Intelligence at Work Collection (5 Books) (HBR Guide Series)

Chapter 13

Desk Yoga

6 Poses You Won’t Be Embarrassed to Do—Even in an Open Environment

by Linda Steinberg

Many of us sit behind our desks and stare at computer screens for far too much of the day. Although concentrated work can be beneficial to our jobs, it can be taxing on our bodies. The following yoga exercises will help you relieve any tension you might feel after too many hours of poring over spreadsheets. The poses also provide longterm benefits with regular practice. Each pose takes fewer than two minutes to complete, and you can do the whole series in just 10 minutes—but I promise you’ll feel the effects long after.

Breathe deeply throughout the poses because sending oxygen to your muscles allows them to relax.

Shoulder Rolls (2 minutes) ...