relaxing break during stressful working days

Do you sit for hours at work – perhaps even hunched over – and after just a few hours, feel pain in your neck or shoulders and a significant decrease in your ability to concentrate? Many employees, students, or freelancers who sit at a desk can agree. If you're affected by this, you should use the break to connect with your body, improve your focus, and relax sore areas. Learn how yoga can help you in this article.

Yoga during your break: Why these exercises improve your well-being!

You're probably familiar with the passionate yogis who are already on the mat, moving, and active early in the morning. Others enjoy the quiet evening hours to harmonize their bodies and calm their systems. In addition, the midday break is perfect for moving your tense, tired body, refreshing your mind, and connecting with your soul.

Yoga is perfect at lunchtime because

• This will help you strengthen your concentration and shift the focus of your brain to other areas.
• You stretch and relax tense parts of your body such as your neck, back or shoulders.
• You stretch your legs and thus counteract tired legs.
• your creativity can increase and improve (this is especially important in creative jobs).
• You turn inwards and can sense how you are doing , what feelings and emotions as well as physical sensations are there.
• This will help you reduce stress and concentrate and focus on the good things in life.

Why is yoga perfect, especially for cognitively demanding jobs?

If you sit in front of a screen for several hours, it's not uncommon for you to lose concentration. This is normal and not a big deal. However, to achieve good results in the afternoon, you can use your lunch break to boost your concentration to a new level.

• Yoga can promote the formation of new neural connections because, during the flow, you train yourself to concentrate on specific exercise sequences and maintain focus.
• In addition, the asanas strengthen concentration and attention, which is especially essential in mentally demanding jobs.
• When you practice yoga regularly, the connection between body and mind can be improved – this has a direct impact on your presence in the moment.
• Yogis also report mental sharpness and an improvement in general cognitive abilities and memory , which are useful in a mentally demanding job.
• During exercise, other areas of the brain are used, allowing the brain areas used for work to relax.

IMPORTANT: Don't forget that, in addition to physical exercises, breathing techniques and meditation also play a significant role in sustaining concentration. Sitting quietly on the cushion can reduce distractions and lengthen attention span. It can also strengthen problem-solving skills.

Combining it with intense or gentle breathing techniques results in the brain being supplied with significantly more oxygen and can also calm the mind.

What physical exercises support you during your break?

Of course, every novice or experienced yogi can observe what kind of yoga session they need at lunchtime. Some prefer a more tranquil sequence, while others desire a more dynamic flow to prepare well for the second half of the day.

It's best to try out different options to figure out what you need. Of course, your needs can change constantly, so you can re-evaluate each day to see what works for you specifically on that day.

In general, the following mat exercises are ideal for lunchtime:

• Child's Pose is perfect for inviting relaxation. It also helps reduce stress and let go. Anyone suffering from tension should definitely incorporate this pose.
• The tree pose is designed to increase balance, strengthen focus, and improve concentration. So, if you're suffering from reduced attention span and have trouble maintaining focus, try this exercise.
• If, on the other hand, you want to improve your self-confidence and steadiness, the Warrior Pose is a good option. Here you can strengthen your inner self, find balance, and improve your self-confidence.
• Downward-facing dog helps you stretch your back and the backs of your legs and ground yourself.
• The lunge with your knee resting on the mat helps you stretch your hip flexors. These tend to shorten, especially during sedentary activities, which in turn negatively impacts mobility.
• Yin poses , held for a particularly long time, are ideal for loosening tired tissue and stretching the fascia. If your break is longer and you desire deep relaxation and a clear head, then consider gentle Yin Yoga sessions.

What should you keep in mind if you want to practice yoga to combat stress and improve concentration?

The most important thing is that you always listen to your gut and, especially in stressful jobs, make sure that yoga moments don't cause you additional stress.

• It's better to do fewer exercises and plan enough time for them. It shouldn't be a quick process of working through various poses.
• Be sure to wear comfortable clothing to help you transition more smoothly into the exercises and feel completely comfortable.
• Observe yourself and your body to see whether it is more comfortable for you to eat a little something before or after your yoga breaks.
• Drink enough, especially when doing strenuous exercise.
• If you find it difficult to stick with it, take the opportunity to ask other colleagues at work if you can practice yoga together.
• Find a space where you can practice your asanas in peace. Perhaps your office is large enough, or there's another room you can use. Perhaps your department head or manager would be willing to set up a space for anyone who would like to use their break to exercise. You can also book a class that takes place during your break.

Have you tried yoga during your break? If so, what benefits have you noticed?