YOGIST Short Session at BPI France: How Do New Technologies Affect Our Bodies?
There’s no denying that new technologies have transformed the workplace. While digital tools and innovation are at the forefront of our concerns, we too often neglect employees’ physical well-being. Indeed, excessive use of smartphones and screens takes a toll on the body. Gentle practices such as yoga while working remotely, or even yoga right from one’s office chair, can be incorporated by employees. During a presentation for BPI France, Anne-Charlotte Vuccino, founder of Yogist, suggested a few exercises to improve posture at work and combat digital-related ailments.
The Dangers of Technology to the Body
During her presentation at BPI France, Anne-Charlotte Vuccino highlighted the link between new technologies and posture at work. She emphasized the importance of maintaining good posture while sitting at a desk. Indeed, under work-related stress, many employees adopt poor postures that ultimately affect their well-being and productivity.
"Tech neck" has become a major problem in recent years. Because they spend so much time leaning over a screen, employees often end up with a hunched back. This posture can lead to back pain that may become debilitating. Frequent use of a smartphone or tablet also has negative effects. Keeping the neck constantly bent downward causes muscle tension. As a result, you may end up with chronic neck pain and mobility issues.
Measures must therefore be taken quickly to address these increasingly common problems.
Simple exercises to combat tech neck
Yogist offers companies training programs designed to improve working conditions and employee well-being. In fact, during her presentation at BPI France, Anne-Charlotte Vuccino shared a few exercises to relieve tech neck.
These exercises take no more than 4 minutes. You don’t need to be an expert yogi or even have any prior experience with yoga. You don’t need a yoga mat, yoga pants, or to go to a gym. They also don’t involve any complicated yoga poses. You can do this type of yoga anywhere, at any time.
A rugby player's workout
The "Rugby Player" is one of the yoga poses offered by Yogist. It includes various breathing exercises as well as simple sequences. To perform it, you must:
- Breathe in as you reach your right hand toward the ceiling before placing it on your left ear;
- Exhale while pulling your head back to bring your right ear toward your right shoulder;
- Breathe in again as you tilt your head to the left. Keep your head tilted to the left;
- Take two breaths, and as you exhale for the second time, relax your head and bring it back toward the center.
Then repeat the same steps on the opposite side. A similar postural exercise is suitable for the neck. You should:
- Interlace your fingers and place them in the center of the back of your head;
- Take a breath and stretch your neck toward the ceiling. Then, as you exhale, bring your chin toward your chest;
- Inhale again while stretching the back of your neck backward and applying resistance with your hands;
- Close your eyes and take three deep breaths, then let your head relax.
This sequence is designed to help you feel the pressure in your neck and upper back. The benefits will promote your relaxation and well-being.
Exercises to improve flexibility
To relieve pressure on your neck and upper back or to alleviate back pain, you need to loosen up your muscles. Most often, office workers make large circles with their heads without doing any breathing exercises or warming up first. This is not recommended.
Anne-Charlotte Vuccino suggests the following method:
- Relax your arms and hands as you inhale and stretch your neck toward the ceiling;
- Exhale as you let your head fall to the right, making sure your right ear rests on the shoulder on the same side;
- Breathe in and out three times while feeling the stretch in your neck, arm … ;
- Bring your head back toward the center.
After this exercise, you will feel a stronger stretch on the opposite side.
After that, employees can try another exercise:
- Exhale as you lower your chin toward your chest;
- Inhale while tilting your head diagonally toward your right shoulder. Keep your chin pointed downward;
- Breathe in and out three times in a row, bringing your right ear toward your right shoulder with each exhalation;
- Then bring your head back to the center of your body, making sure to keep it lowered.
Do the same exercise on the other side before lifting your chin.
In the video of Anne-Charlotte Vuccino’s presentation at BPI France, she led the participants through these exercises. Her goal was to demonstrate that yoga—whether practiced while working from home or elsewhere—brings relief to beginners and experienced yogis alike. No special preparation is needed; simply following these instructions is enough to ease work-related stress and help you relax.
