We keep being told that we are sitting for too long at our desks. Kerrie-Anne Bradley has the answer to the problems associates with inactivity in her excellent book, Move More At Your Desk. Here she describes her Shake Break:
Before describing movements geared toward specific body parts, I want to introduce you to one of my favourite ways to move. This is what I do at the start of every Pilates At Your Desk workshop, and something I probably do myself at least six times a day. It’s very simple; you just stand up and shake all your body bits out. This is how I teach it:
1. Start by shaking out your feet: Lift your left foot off the floor and wiggle it around a little, point and flex your toes, and then replace it and do the same with the right.
2. Move onto your legs: Lift one leg out to the side and give it a little shake, and then do the same with the other. A little Irish jig-esque action with legs shaking out to the side would work. Or if you prefer, go for a full-on Hokey Cokey style!
3. Wiggle your bottom: Shake it à la Shakira (side to side–let it be free!).
4. Jiggle your belly: Wobble it around. A little bouncing helps with this.
5. Shimmy your chest: Get the shoulders involved too!
6. Throw your arms in the air like you just don’t care!: Bring them above your head almost like you’re swatting flies.
7. Move your head around: I like to embody the nodding-dog-in-a-car vibe when doing this, letting my head move freely!
8. Do all of the above all at once! Really go for it. Get that heart rate up and make sure all those body parts are moving. Make yourself smile!
Extracted from Move More at Your Desk: Increase Your Energy at Work & Reduce Back, Shoulder & Neck Pain by Kerrie-Anne Bradley. Available now from Watkins Publishing or at any good book retailer.