' Feeling antsy in the office? Want to be in better shape after you leave your 9-to-5 than when you started your workday?
Last week, VP Jess Parsons introduced the GMM staff to a series she titled “Desk-ercise.” Her 30-minute lunch session detailed many simple moves geared toward toning your upper body, lower body, core, and even increasing your cardio capacity.
And all in a day’s work!
Part 1: Upper Body Exercises
What you’ll need: Swivel Desk Chair, Desk, Water Bottle, Resistance Band
Bicep Curls: biceps
Sitting in your chair, hold a water bottle in your right hand, and, with abs in and spine straight, curl bottle towards shoulder for 16 reps. Repeat with your left hand. Do 2-3 sets.
Harmony deskercises with bicep curls.
Chair Dips: triceps, chest and deltoids
Make sure chair is stable and place hands next to hips or on arm rests. Move hips in front of chair and bend the elbows, lowering the body until the elbows are at 90 degrees. Push back up and repeat for 16 reps. Complete 2 sets.
A tip (in hindsight): Secure rolling chairs against a wall before trying this exercise.
Front Raise to Triceps Press: triceps & shoulders
Sit tall with the abs in and hold a full water bottle in the left hand. Lift the bottle up to shoulder level, pause, and then continue lifting all the way up over the head. When the arm is next to the ear, bend the elbow, taking the water bottle behind you and contracting the triceps. Straighten the arm and lower down, repeating for 12 reps on each arm for 2 sets.
Water: not just for drinking.
Desk/Wall Press: chest, shoulders, arms & back
Stand about three feet from a wall, and place your hands flush against the wall, about shoulder-width apart. Slowly lower your body toward the wall by flexing your elbows. When your elbows are aligned with your torso, push back up. Do 10 repetitions.
Philip and Harmony team up for some Wall Presses
Single Arm Row with Band: biceps, shoulders, & back
Have a seat in your chair. Tie one end of the resistance band on a door knob, or handle of a locked drawer. Make sure that the secure end is level or lower than chest level. Take the other end of the band and wrap once around your right hand. Without Moving your torso, pull the band towards your abs so that your fist is touching your side with elbow bent. Pause, then slowly extend arm back to starting position. Do 2 sets of 16 reps with each arm.
Philip was not harmed in the shooting of this Seated Arm Row.
Stay tuned in the next few days/weeks for more installments of the Desk-ercise series!
