1. Try Seated Chest Stretches at Work
Unfortunately most bosses still won't let you take time out of the day to get a little exercise in. When you are chained to a desk for work, you need a fitness break even more than if your worked in a job that required physical exertion. However, you can find ways to sneak in some exercises without even leaving your desk, with no one the wiser. Stretches are going to be very beneficial to keep you flexible and prevent tightness and muscle fatigue from staying in one place for too long.
2. Just Reaching, Sir
To give your chest a good stretch, reach as if you are going into a big yawn. Yawning is quite acceptable at work. Keep your arms moving backwards until they join in the back of your chair. Now pull very gently, poking your chest out as you stretch. Do seated chest stretches a couple times a day and you will find that your shoulders and neck get less tense and your breathing can remain more regular. Yawn once more and raise your hands over your head and press the palms together. Squeeze the shoulder blades together to add another dimension to the chest stretch. Hold it for 10 seconds, or as long as you can get away with.
3. Take a Load off
In the gym, rotate your exercises between standing and sitting machines. Your body will remain more flexible this way and muscles that have received a strenuous workout get a little time to heal. While sitting at the pec machine, add 20 or 30 pounds of resistance to do seated chest stretches. Use your arms to pull the heavy weights forward with your hands touching, and then take the pressure off your arms and let your chest take the brunt of the release movement. You'll feel some stretches in places you never could reach before.
4. It's a Balancing act
During yoga or seated meditations, you can add a seated chest stretch to bring yourself back into the moment and work out all the kinks that may have arisen during your stretch of inactivity. While sitting on the floor cross-legged, reach behind and clasp your hands together at your lower back. This move is also a good way to practice another balancing position. With hands tightly clasped, pull as hard as you can, sticking your chest out and holding in your abdominal muscles. Hold for at least 10 to 20 seconds and release your arms slowly to bring them back to the front.
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