Yoga at Work ~ Reduce and Repair Repetitive Stress

Friday, November 30th, 2007

Yoga at Work ~ Reduce and Repair Repetitive Stress

I frequently teach the following stretch as preventative medicine for carpal tunnel and repetitive stress injury for the hands, wrists, arms and shoulder.

Jennifer M.

Here’s how it’s done:

Stand next to a wall.
Reach out and place your right palm flat on the wall at shoulder height, fingers pointing to the right.
Keeping that right hand in place, turn your feet so your toes are pointing inward toward the room and shift your whole body so that your torso faces the room (your back is facing the wall).
Straighten the arm.
Keeping your right hand in place (fingers spread wide and flat on the wall) and arm nice and straight, slightly roll your shoulder back and down (shoulder rotates clockwise).
You should feel the stretch intensify and even feel uncomfortable.
Stick with it.
Breathe
Hold for 1 minute (continually flattening the palm, straightening the arm, and rolling shoulder back).

After you let go, notice how the right hand, wrist and arm feels as it hangs by your side. Do you feel more space, more freedom, and greater range of movement?