7 Exercises You Can Do While Sitting Down – Chair exercises for a great sitting workout!

Exercise gives you energy, but what if you sit all day at work or at home? You can still get a workout from these sitting exercises— chair exercises that can be down without getting out of your chair.

These exercises you can do while sitting down are perfect for anyone working from a desk or spending most of the day in a chair.

I started looking into sitting exercises (chair exercises) that can be done without walking around after my husband’s back surgery. Years ago, my husband had to have back surgery (caused by years of Highschool & College football, followed by a fall down an icy set of stairs). It was around that time that we realized how little he could do after the surgery since he would be sitting at his work desk most of the day.

Before Mickey started working from home, he spent many hours a day at his desk.  He spent countless hours working on the computer, making phone calls, sitting down while on conference calls, etc…

Chair Exercises are a great workout while sitting at the office.

Some days he spent more than ten hours a day at his work desk, which resulted in very little time moving around.  This is not healthy for anyone, especially those recovering from back surgery.

While exercising is important, sometimes getting the exercise you need during the day is hard.  The problem is that if you are sedentary for too long, you will begin to have aches and pains like my husband began having.

My husband’s back surgery recovery plan included seated workouts to help his mobility return, which was essential in controlling the pain.

Often, back pain is caused by an abdominal injury, hamstring injury, general leg injury, or a pulled muscle, so if you can fit in a workout or even squeeze in some exercise at work – you’ll be ahead of the game.

He had to find a solution, and he did: Sitting Exercises. These are simple exercises for different muscle groups that he could do without even standing up (while he was putting in a full day of work). These desk exercises and chair exercises helped so much- even simple stretches while sitting at the office will make you feel better.

Sitting Exercises you can do while sitting in your chair. 

I hope these ideas help: Chair Exercises You Can Do While Sitting Down in the Office. 

Here are seven chair exercises you can do while sitting in the office that don’t require you to get out of your seat.

Calf muscle toning

Give your calf muscles a workout by raising your legs on the tips of your toes while remaining seated (you can still bend your knees). Your calf muscles should start to burn after a few seconds.
⇒ Hold for ten seconds, return to the starting position, and then repeat eight times.

Clenches

The beauty of this exercise is that you aren’t getting up, and no one knows that you are secretly fitting in a workout. This one can engage your core muscles, too.
⇒ For buns of steel, clench your buttocks and hold for ten seconds. Do five sets of eight reps

Ankle Rotations

This exercise can strengthen the flexibility of your ankles and make you less likely to suffer from sprains.
⇒ While keeping your legs straight, rotate your ankles in both directions for five seconds. Do five sets of eight reps in each direction.

Arm stretches

Just because you’re seated at your desk doesn’t mean your arms and the upper body can’t do just about anything they want. Many arm exercises can be performed while seated at your desk. First, stretch your arms up (palms facing inward) as far as you can.
Stretch the muscles in your right arm by reaching as far to the left as you can with your right arm while supporting it in the crook of your left elbow, and then hold it there.  Repeat with your left hand and arm. Remember to keep your arms straight to get the best stretch possible.
⇒ Feel the stretch for five seconds. Do eight reps before switching over to your left arm.

Rotating at the waist

Strengthen your core by rotating at the waist while remaining seated.  Get into the proper position by sitting with your legs shoulder-width apart and your knees bent over the edge of your chair.

It is almost like a wall sit position, but you are in your chair.

Rotate as far to the left as you can and hold for five seconds, then repeat on the right. Grab the backrest of your chair with your hands for extra support.
⇒ Complete five sets of five seconds on each side.

Crunches

Move to the edge of your chair with your feet planted on the ground. Lean back on the backrest. Then lift your straightened legs a few inches above the ground and raise your back a few inches off the backrest. Feel the burn in your abdominal muscles and hold for ten seconds.

If this is difficult, bend your left knee or your right knee a bit.  
⇒ Eight reps of ten seconds each can strengthen your core considerably when done regularly.

Leg Lifts

Starting with both feet flat on the floor, do leg lifts, starting first with the right leg & foot and then the left foot & leg. Lift your left leg until it touches the underside of your desk.  Return to the starting position and repeat with your right leg.
⇒ Do ten sets of eight reps to strengthen your thigh muscles and core.

Being busy is never an excuse not to stay fit. While you should always try to make time for proper cardio and weight training, never forget that there are many other ways you can incorporate exercise into your daily routine by doing this at work or even workout at home.

Always stay hydrated by keeping a water bottle with you at your desk.  Eat healthy foods – like my favorite one: 4-ingredient Banana NICE cream! 

Doing a couple of simple exercises while sitting down in the office each day can, when done regularly, help to improve your flexibility, muscle tone, and strength.

WORKOUTS TO DO AT A STANDING DESK:

With a standing desk, you can move from sitting to standing in a few seconds with the gas spring-assisted lift.   Standing desks do wonders for your posture and can help with back pain.
I have this standing desk: FlexiSpot’s Comhar Pro Standing Desk Q8. I love the features of this desk, like the Built-in Wireless Charger & the under-desk cable management tray. The smart control panel with USB ports and Anti-collision function are great. It’s so sturdy & the whole family can use it thanks to the broad height range (24.0” to 49.2”.)

Glute Squeeze Standing Desk Workout:

While standing straight behind your desk, squeeze your glutes and hold for 45 seconds.  Release, relax, and then repeat.  Do at least 10 of these.

Calf Raises Standing Desk Workout:

Standing straight, raise your heels until you are on your toes. Hold for several seconds, lower your heels back down, and repeat.  Do this 30 times in a row, or more if possible. I often suggest trying to do this for a minute straight, then taking a break and doing it for another minute.
Tip: hold onto the back of your desk chair or the sides of the chair for extra support.

Standing Squats Standing Desk Workout:

Stand with your feet slightly wider than your hips and your toes pointing forward.  Looking straight ahead, put your weight on your heels and the balls of your feet.
Push your bottom back and your feet forward-facing. Squat down, keeping your knees in line with your feet.   Hold for a few seconds and stand back up.  Repeat 10-12 times.

MY FAVORITE GET-FIT TOOLS: 

1). WEIGHT-LOSS PLAN. If you are ready to get serious & lose weight…   My husband lost 30 pounds in under eight weeks using this plan. (Here he was at six weeks & 25 pounds lost… the before & after)

2). YoNananas is one of my favorite things- it will change how you snack.   If you love ice cream or sorbet, this is for you. Put frozen fruit into the machine, and it comes out like ice cream! My favorite combo is mango, pineapple, and one banana. I might do a youtube video on it.

3). NINJA Blender – Turn fruits or vegetables into a smoothie or juice ( for heart health).  It’s a huge hit in our family.

4). Under-Desk Stair Stepper: Put this stair stepper under your desk & work out while you work – physical activity without going anywhere. 🙂

5). FITBIT   Track steps, distance, floors climbed, quality of sleep, and more. Plus- it has the time, heart rate, Caller ID & Text support (Depending on which FITBIT you get).

6). Check out the weight-loss course (to lose fat, gain muscle, and feel your best) here.

MORE POSTS YOU MIGHT LIKE:

• STAY IN SHAPE WHILE YOU STAY HOME. 
• HOW TO START RUNNING WHEN YOU DON’T LIKE TO RUN
• 30-DAY SLIM-DOWN WORKOUT CHALLENGE
• HOW TO START EATING CLEAN… WHEN YOU DON’T KNOW WHERE TO BEGIN. 

Note: Always check any terms and conditions that your doctor may have for you before moving forward with any new exercise.