To get the most benefits from doing yoga, it is best to take a full hour class or set aside enough time at home to work a variety of poses. However, everyone who works for a living knows that an hour of free time may not always be possible. There are times when a workout has to be squeezed into the few empty time slots of the day. If you have a few minutes of down time at work, it is possible to sneak in a few yoga stretches.

One of the easiest forms of yoga to do at work is abdominal breathing. You don’t even have to leave your chair. To do this, you would sit in a natural position and place your hands on your abdomen. You will feel your abdomen expand as you inhale and then you pull in your abdomen as far as you can as you exhale. You can do ten of these once or twice a day. Abdominal breathing does wonders for your stress level and might be advisable before any meeting with the big boss!

Another simple yoga stretch to do while sitting in your office chair is a neck stretch. Once again, you maintain a natural upright sitting posture. You initially lower your chin, stretching the back of your neck. Next, lower the right ear to your right shoulder, and then follow that by lowering your left ear to your left shoulder. You should hold each of these stretches for approximately three normal breaths.

You can also do twists in your office chair. Start by holding onto the left arm of the chair and take a few breaths. Reach back a little further and try looking behind you. Then repeat on the opposite side. Take a few breaths each time you hold the stretch. These seated twists are great for your neck and back. You can also do bends in the seated position by just reaching for the floor and lowering your head as far as possible. These bends can also be done standing behind your chair and bending forward in a smooth and gradual fashion.

If your office has a separate available room, you can bring your yoga mat to work and do various poses during coffee break or lunch. Fifteen minutes of yoga postures will certainly do wonders for your stress level and may even improve your work. If your boss notices, yoga may become a requirement for everyone at the office!