2020 started with a lot of hope and new plans for most of us. Then we were hit by the COVID-19 virus, which very soon turned into a global pandemic. With lockdowns and several measures to avoid the spread of this virus, a lot of us have been forced to work from home, without hitting the gym or going out for a run. While work from home is becoming fairly popular, giving us time and luxury to work from the comfort of our homes, it is also leading to people spending more and more time sitting on the couch or lying down on beds & mattresses in weird positions. Slumberzone New Zealand cares for your health and well being.
You will find yourself in this position more often than you realize
Lying down on your luxury bed for a long number of hours can lead to several health issues, no matter if you have the best mattress. It can cause a lot of health problems, from sore joints and muscles to reduced metabolism rate. It also increases the risk of heart disease and seriously affects mental health. It has become extremely important for us to take care of our physical and mental health during this time.
Here are stretches you can do to stay active and fit and maintain a good posture.
★ Wrist and Finger Stretch:
Working on your laptops can cause carpal tunnel syndrome. Carpal tunnel can leave you with tingling and numbness of fingers, weakness of muscles in the hand, and also leave you sleepless at night. Place the fingertips of one hand on the palm of the other and take your arms forward. Then press the fingers on to the palms, towards the back of your wrist. Repeat this on the other side as well.
- Neck Stretch: Working long hours staring at your computer leads to strain and ache in the neck. Neck stretches are a great way to get rid of the aches and kinks in the neck. As you inhale drop your right ear to your right shoulder and place your right hand on top of the left year. Do not push, let gravity pull your head down. Stay there for a few breaths, release as you exhale and repeat on the other side.
A stiff neck can cause a lot of discomforts
- Mountain pose: Sitting long hours on the bed will leave you with a bad posture. Stand with your feet hips-width distance apart, line your neck
with your tailbone and your hands by your side facing forward. Relax your face and jaw. This is a great pose to improve posture and also helps in strengthening knees, ankles, and thighs. It also improves blood circulation.
- Forward fold:
Forward fold is one of the best poses to calm the mind and relieve stress. It also reduces body fatigue and stretches hamstrings and calves, which can become very sore and tight from long hours of sitting. With your feet hip-width apart, bend forward from your hip joints and bring your hands to the floor or hold on to your shins.
Forward folds are a great way to relieve stress and anxiety
Side body stretch can also be done seating on a chair
- Side body stretch: Stand in mountain pose, as you inhale, lift your arms, and join your palms. Then on an exhale bend to your right, inhale come back to center, and repeat on the left side. This is a great way to relieve stress and improves body posture as well.
Incorporate these stretches into your routine at the beginning of your day or at the end of a tiring day. You can thank us later. Let us know your stretch routine in the comments below.
Stay home, Sleep Well, Wake Up Refreshed, Stay safe!