Are you aware of how your employees’ physiology affects your business?

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Physical therapies are becoming increasingly common in the workplace as organisations look to develop and implement a culture of wellbeing.

Our physiology often affects our psychology and therefore if employees are tense and experiencing musculoskeletal discomfort, it will affect their concentration, productivity and efficiency when at work.

Tension accumulates in the neck, shoulders and back when you spend hours sitting at a desk, driving, or in meetings. Today, massage is an effective model in treating stress and some of the osteopathic problems associated with sitting at desks for too long. Massages can stimulate blood flow to different muscle groups, release tension in muscles, energise, and improve posture.

Physical therapies such as massage therapies have been shown to reduce the psychological markers of stress and depression and increase concentration and mood.

Here is a quick, practical and effective desk-massage tip:

Sit comfortably with your back supported against the back of the chair, feet firmly on the ground with your hands and arms open and relaxed.

  1. With a deep breath in, raise the shoulders towards the ears and hold them raised for a few seconds. Then slowly breathe out and drop the shoulders. Repeat several times.
  2. Place your left hand on your right shoulder. Squeeze gently and then release. Repeat down the right arm to the elbow. Repeat several times. Place your right hand on your left shoulder and repeat the exercise.
  3. Place the fingers of both hands at the base of your skull; apply slow circular pressures down from the base of the skull to the base of the neck.
  4. Now close your eyes and relax your face muscles. Be aware of your eye muscles, your jaw and your forehead. Place the fingers of both hands on each side of the temples and slowly massage in circular motion. Repeat several times.
  5. Finish by cupping your hands over your eyes and holding for several seconds. This helps to release tension and tightness in the face.

Benefits of massage include:

  • Release of muscle tension and improved musculoskeletal function
  • Reduction in the perception of stress
  • Reduction in Blood Pressure and Heart Rate
  • Reduction of back pain
  • Lower Anxiety and Depression
  • Improved Concentration and Mood
  • Increased Alertness and Clarity