Paschimottanasana (seated forward fold)

Paschimottanasana (seated forward fold)

To do this pose:

Come to a seated position on your mat with both legs extended out in front of you. You can keep your knees as bent as you need to depending on how flexible your hamstrings are. On your inhale, lengthen up through your spine and lift your arms up over your head. On your exhale, start to bend forward at your hips over your legs. Once you reach your limit, let your head and neck round and relax your arms and hands wherever that is comfortable.

How this pose is especially beneficial for nurses: 

• It stretches the upper and lower body at the same time including the spine, shoulders, neck, and backs of the legs. This can be so helpful for busy nurses to get in a good stretch for multiple muscle groups after a long day or to warm up for the day. 
• It stimulates digestion and promotes blood flow to the ovaries and uterus in women. This helps rid the body of toxins through digestion and can help prevent PMS symptoms like pain in the pelvis. 
• It’s been shown to decrease anxiety, depression, and fatigue. Nursing is hard and helping to reverse feelings of anxiety, depression, and fatigue regularly can help prevent burnout over time.