by Carolyn Steele Agosta

Created on: October 14, 2009   Last Updated: October 16, 2009

The Slacker's Guide to Office Exercise

I hate exercise. And I'm not all that crazy about being at the office all day, either. So how can I combine the two for fun and physical benefit? Is there a way to painlessly work some exercises into my workday without actually, um, working? Yes, my peeps! There is. The Slacker's guide will show you how.

1. The "I forgot something in my car" fun run. Er, walk. When you can't stand sitting at the desk one more second, pull the "I forgot something in my car" ploy and walk out to the parking lot. The use of stairs both up and down wins you extra points. (If you work on the 27th floor, then a judicial combination of stairs and elevator will suffice.) Extra points for not stopping for a latte. Extra benefit - a few breaths of fresh air. 2. The "Too much lunch" stomach flex. While sitting at your desk, between tasks, pull your stomach UP and IN, counteracting the long-terms of effects of that evil monster, Gravity. Extra points if you can still breathe while doing so. Extra benefit - if you do this right, you will also straighten your spine, adding to your flexibility and attractiveness to the opposite sex. 3. Wall Angels - if you can find a spot where no one will see you, stand with your back tall and straight against the wall, including the back of your head, and do Wall Angels. Yes, just like those old Snow Angels but just with your arms, not (obviously - I hope) your legs. Try to make your arms skim the wall as you raise and lower them. Extra points for being able to maintain this good posture when you return to your desk. Extra benefit - reduction of Computer Neck, that head-forward posture too many of us get after long hours spent online. 4. Skater's Waltz. This requires a location out of view of your co-workers. Stand tall and straight, with your feet about 24" apart and sway from side to side, alternately stepping and bringing your heels up behind you, about knee high. This stretches the front thigh muscle and contracts the back thigh and bun muscles, an opposite effect to what sitting does. Bend your knees slightly and you'll feel the effects even more in your thighs. Extra points if you can hum The Skater's Waltz by Waldteufel (or even Tchaikovsky's Waltz of the Snowflakes). Extra benefit - just makes you feel good.

So what do you do with the extra points you earn? Convert them to dollars and sign up for dance lessons. Tennis lessons. Golf lessons. Whatever form of exercise that you actually consider fun. Look at it this way, at least if you do these exercises, you might not have to sign up for monthly chiropractor appointments!

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