Your wellbeing
These exercises are designed to encourage a safe way to enjoy movement and stretch certain muscle groups that can become stiff as a result of long periods of sitting. They may be effective in increasing the body’s circulation and massaging the muscles. We recommend you do these exercises for three or four minutes every hour and occasionally get out of your seat and walk down the aisles if conditions allow. Each exercise should be done with minimal disturbance to other passengers. None of the following should be performed if they cause pain or cannot be done with ease.
ANKLE CIRCLES
Lift feet off the floor: Draw a circle with toes, simultaneously moving one foot clockwise and the other foot counter clockwise. Reverse circles. Do each direction for 15 seconds. Repeat if desired.
OVERHEAD STRETCH
Raise both arms straight up and over your head. With one hand grasp the wrist of the opposite hand and gently pull to one side. Hold stretch for 15 seconds. Repeat other side.
KNEE LIFTS
Lift leg with knee bent while contracting your thigh muscle. Alternate legs. Repeat 20-30 times for each leg.
SHOULDER STRETCH
Reach right hand over left shoulder. Place left hand behind right elbow and gently press elbow towards shoulder. Hold stretch for 15 seconds. Repeat other side.
SHOULDER ROLL
Hunch shoulders forward, then upward, then backward, then downward using a gentle circular motion.
NECK ROLL
With shoulders relaxed, drop ear to shoulder and gently roll neck forward and to the other side, holding each position about 5 seconds. Repeat 5 times.
ARM CURL
Start with arms held high at 90° angle - elbows down, hands out in front. Raise hands up to chest and back down alternating arms. Do these exercises in 30 second intervals.
FOOT PUMPS
Foot motion is in three stages. Start with both heels on the floor and point feet upwards as high as you can.
KNEE TO CHEST
Bend forward slightly. Clasp hands around left knee and hug it to your chest. Hold stretch for 15 seconds. Keeping hands around knee, slowly let it down. Alternate legs. Repeat 10 times. Put both feet flat on the floor.
FORWARD FLEX
With both feet on the floor and stomach held in slowly, bend forward to walk your hands down the front of your legs towards your ankles. Hold stretch for 15 seconds and slowly sit back up. Lift heels high, keeping balls of feet on floor. Continue these three stages with continuous motion in 30 second intervals.