Yoga - Undust at desk

If you believe yoga is all about twists and turns of body in innumerable directions and delusive postures, it is a myth. In fact it is a traditional science that unfolds many secret treasures within each of us. Impact of Yoga practice is not just at physical level, but often even beyond our observation. It acts on mental nodes, emotional mounts, energy channels and various other aspects of human living. Each of the Yoga asanas is specific body positions which open the energy channels and psychic centers. They act as tools for higher awareness. 

To start as Yogic, all it takes is to believe. Believe in the practice. Believe in yourself. Believe that change is happening. And that change, is for the best. Practising beyond belief is better than the best. Believe!  

Here are few simple tricks to keep stress out of desk.

1.    Head-on: Let’s start with the power source of our body. Place your hands on the temples and massage them gently. Press your top of the head with a slight pressure for a minute or two. Massaging relaxes the nerves that connect to the mind.

2.    Unknot your eyebrows: Confused? Puzzled? Annoyed? Then and there your eyebrows are knotted. Take time to unknot it. Take a break from work for a few minutes and pinch your eyebrows using your index finger and the thumb. Do this around 8-10 times and notice the difference.

3.    Eyes on roller coaster: What is your eye catchy expression looking at a roller coaster? Aren't your eyes popped in and out; rolling circles; blink blink and blink to see how high it goes? This is what exactly needs to be done to relieve eyes even in the absence of a roller coaster. The eyes suffer a lot during long hours of staring at the computer screen. Give them a break every 30-45 minutes by looking at a far-sighted object. This would exercise the eye muscles for long-sightedness. Blinking your eyes more frequently throughout the day improves your vision.

4.    Caught on your ears: Pull your ears up from the top and down from the bottom. Ear lobes are connected to awareness. Do you remember your teacher pulling you by your ear in class? It was to increase your awareness so that you pay more attention. Don’t give people a chance to pull your ears. Pull them yourself!

5.    Neck goes round and round: Neck is pipeline for all the nerves connecting your body to mind. Don't let the neck become a bottleneck in your daily work! Roll your neck gently clockwise and anti-clockwise, then from left to right and sideways. 

6.    Hold your hands: It’s always been a pleasure holding hands of loved ones. But did you hold the hand of your dearest you? If not, you must. Hold your hands, raise your arms and move them up and down, round and round.

7.    Twist and turn: Gently lift your upper body, keeping the lower body fixed on the chair. Then twist your spin while your turn it back from left and right. This will exercise your back and improve your physical flexibility.

8.     Hug yourself: Hug yourself for all its support. Now with your hands resting on your knees stretch your back backwards and look towards the ceiling, stretch your back forward and drop your head forward. Team this up with exhalation (up) and inhalation (Down). 

9.     Longing legs: Tough deadlines? Can’t move an inch? Yet, legs longing to move around? Here is how you can make them happy. Raise your legs to a level where they are in line with your hips. Feel the stretch in your hamstrings. Move the ankles in the clockwise and anti-clockwise direction while holding in this position. It will relax your calves and make you ready for a sprint to your lunch place!

10.   Meditate: You are always on the move, getting the project delivery done for the client, negotiating with the finance team or chalking out road maps for your subordinates. Give your mind a break. Meditate. Take time out for 10-15 minutes and meditate. This will reflect in the quantity and quality of your work too!

These posture are beginner level and everyone can comfortably try. In case of any serious medical issues please consult your doctor/Yoga instructor before practising.
P.S: The list of postures in this post are picked up and re-framed from different sources. Primary reference : artofliving.org