Zen at Work: Stretching at the Office

For those of us with desk jobs, it’s important to take time to move a little while at work (and no, walking to the water cooler doesn’t count). In fact, nothing beats the 3 p.m. slump better than five minutes of gentle stretching and breathing; it gets your blood flowing (thus waking up your brain) and can help prevent repetitive stress injuries like carpal tunnel syndrome. We trolled the web for cubicle-compatible stretches and meditations and found quite a few. Check out our favorites, then take a deep breath and get ready to shake off stress:

Desk Stretching Sequence: An easy-to-follow guide (with photos!) that’s incredibly simple, even if you’ve never done yoga before.

Yoga at Your Desk: An awesome, quick tutorial with animated pictures; select upper or lower body stretches from two sequences (one for cubicle dwellers, one for those with their own offices).

Desk Yoga: Breathe Out Stress: In this six-minute video from Gaiam Life, renowned yoga instructor Rodney Yee guides you through a seated relaxation exercise that focuses on the breath. No bending or flexing required; we just recommend that you pop in some headphones so as not to bug your cubicle mates.