Howto... Fix your sedentary work life

● Sitting in front of a computer screen all day is bad for us, and we know this, but are unable to escape our sedentary work lives.

Monja Boonzaier, who teaches Feldenkrais, a method of exercise that aims to reorganise connections between the brain and body, warns much of the “advice” to counter the effects of sitting all day is wrong. She has some advice:

● Dynamic sitting (exercises that can be done in a chair) can help to counter the damage done by sitting all day. "We recommend arm and wrist stretches, doing side bends to the left and right to stretch the lower back, and doing glute stretches like lunges or swinging each leg forward and back while standing. You should also regularly roll your feet, rock your pelvis back and forth, shift your weight to the left and right of your seat, and press each ear to your shoulder.”

● These exercises take a few minutes and can be repeated once an hour. “Ideally, people should also get up from their desks and walk around every hour too.”

Linda Trim, a director at workplace design specialists Giant Leap, who has worked with Boonzaier, warns that the dynamic sitting programme does not replace your exercise regime.