Campus Recreation encourages you to Un-Desk Your Body

Sitting for hours at a time convinces your muscles to accommodate a slouched position. Hip flexors shorten, the neck and upper spine protrude forward and the glutes and hamstrings weaken. To help you combat this, Chris Haukos, of Campus Recreation, has put together a stretching guide to help you Un-Desk Your Body as part of St. Cloud State University’s Keep Living campaign. 

In addition to stretching, set a reminder to get up every 20-30 minutes and give yourself small bites of movement throughout the day in order to slouch-proof your body, Haukos said. 

Stretches to Un-Desk Your Body: 

Piriformis stretch demonstration

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Piriformis stretch to help elevate sciatica, hip and lower back pain. 1. While standing cross leg, make sure ankle is above knee 2. Hold onto your desk while hinging hips and lowering 3. Pull navel to spine 4. Squeeze shoulder blades 5. Gently squeeze inner thighs

See the full workout (PDF)