Sitting at a desk is a major part of their job for many people, and whilst doing this you burn very few calories. This often leads many people to ask the question what desk exercises are there that actually work? There are very few that you can do without looking very silly, but there have been the least silly ones chosen here. Obviously you can simply walk around the office; however, you cannot do this all day, as you wouldn’t be doing your job, unless the job is to walk around the office aimlessly that is!
Pull your chair!
This exercise is great for your forearms, bicep and shoulders. All you need is a chair and to be sat on it. For this exercise ensure you are sat securely on the chair with your feet just above the ground. Put your hands by your side, palms facing towards your body, and hanging just under the chair. Grip on to the chair, and attempt to lift the chair off the ground. Obviously this is impossible, however, giving it your best shot and holding for around 10-15 seconds will give a great workout. After you have tried once to do this, relax for 30 seconds or so, and attempt again. Unlike conventional gym work you can continue doing this as much as you want. In fact you are entitled to do this all day if you feel that would be beneficial, or at least take the boredom out of working.
Roll that magazine!
Next to try is an exercise for all your arm muscles, as well as light work on shoulders and chest. For this you can be sitting down or standing. All you need is an old newspaper or magazine that you do not mind getting ruined. Roll this up into a tube shape, and from here grip it with your arms outstretched, and palms facing towards the ground. From here bend each hand at a time in a motorbike like action, and as your wrist is bent as far as possible start bending the other wrist backwards. Then follow this by going back onto the first hand straightening it out before repeating the action. Again there is an unlimited amount of time you can do this for, but if you managed to do it half a dozen times each for 30 seconds a day, you have done well!
Get away from your desk!
Unfortunately with this exercise you will not be able to get away from your desk, however much you may try! So for this you need a desk, a chair, and something to secure your feet onto. Quite simply sit in front of the desk, and secure your feet to the ground. Then place your palms onto the edge of the desk. Push as hard as you can to try and get away from the desk. However hard you try, you should not move. This exercise mostly works the pectoral area. Once again you can do this as many times a day as you wish, but as before, half a dozen 30 seconds bursts would be fantastic.
Calf raises.
For the final exercise it will work your legs. This one is even less obvious that the others; no one will even know you are doing anything; and the added bonus is, it need not interrupt any work at all! Simply sit at the desk with your feet flat on the floor and shoulder width apart. While sat in this position you should then raise your legs by leaving you just touching the ground by the balls of your feet. Raise as high as possible, before returning flat to the ground. You can repeat this as many times as you feel necessary; keep going for 10 or 15 minutes if you wish!
Although no desk exercises will ever substitute proper gym work or proper exercises, these are some of the best exercises available for while you are working at a desk, and will give you a decent work out without making you look a fool in front of your friends and colleagues.