All posts tagged: counteract

I’m a yoga teacher and I recommend these five poses to counteract the nine-to-five slouch

I’m a yoga teacher and I recommend these five poses to counteract the nine-to-five slouch

If you spend hours of your day sitting, then tight hips, lower-back pain and a tight chest and shoulders might be familiar complaints—especially if you ignore your smartwatch’s reminders to move. But it doesn’t have to be this way. Yoga can relieve tension in the body and destress the mind, so it’s a great option for anyone looking to feel better in their body. If you’re not moving as much as your body needs, then a few targeted postures can help. Here are my favorite yoga postures for counteracting the nine-to-five slouch. They can be practiced individually or as a complete sequence. You may like 1. Extended child’s pose This is a nice, easy posture that stretches your sides, opens your chest, shoulders and hips, while gently lengthening your lower back. Hold: 3-5 breaths Get on your hands and knees, with your knees wider than hip-width apart. Move your glutes back to your heels, keeping your hands on the floor. Stretch your arms and hands forward on the floor, lengthening through your spine. Straightening your …

Blue light exposure may counteract anxiety caused by chronic vibration

Blue light exposure may counteract anxiety caused by chronic vibration

Living in a modern environment often means enduring a constant hum of background noise and physical vibration. From the rumble of heavy traffic to the oscillation of industrial machinery, these invisible stressors can gradually erode mental well-being. A new study suggests that a specific color of light might offer a simple way to counter the anxiety caused by this chronic environmental agitation. The research indicates that blue light exposure can calm the nervous system even when the physical stress of vibration continues. These findings were published in the journal Physiology & Behavior. Anxiety disorders are among the most common mental health challenges globally. They typically arise from a complicated mix of biological traits and social pressures. Environmental factors are playing an increasingly large role in this equation. Chronic exposure to low-frequency noise and vibration is known to disrupt the body’s hormonal balance. This disruption frequently leads to psychological symptoms such as irritability, fatigue, and persistent anxiety. Doctors often prescribe medication to manage these conditions once a diagnosis is clear. These drugs usually work by altering …

This desk-side Pilates workout can counteract the damaging effects of sitting with just five moves

This desk-side Pilates workout can counteract the damaging effects of sitting with just five moves

Hunching at your desk for hours or slouching over your phone or tablet can place undue stress on your back, shoulders, hips and neck. It can often be worse for home workers who don’t have the correct setup or equipment to ensure they are sitting up properly. “Working from home often means long hours spent rounded over laptops, which can lead to tight hips, slouched posture and a sleepy core,” says Allie Ryle, a qualified mat and reformer Pilates instructor at The Fitness Group, which is launching its new Sana Pilates class in January. She has created a sequence of five Pilates exercises for Fit&Well readers who work from home in front of a computer all day, to help counteract the damage done from sitting. You may like “These can be done desk-side with just a mat or a small amount of floor space,” says Ryle. “They target posture, deep core stability, spinal mobility and hip strength—the key pillars that help counteract long sedentary days.” The Pilates Desk Workout 1. Arabesque lunge reach (Image credit: …