I have a hunch

I have a hunch. I mean it dear fans. My shoulders droop forward causing me to look and feel sluggish. I've always tried to sit up straight, but it has never happened for me. Then one sunny day last year I discovered particular exercises to help beam me back up. So whether you're a fellow hunchie, or you just lean into your computer all day, this one's for you.

Hunching long-term causes back muscles to become stretched and loose, while the chest muscles (I'm going for layman's terms here, don't mind me) tighten and shorten. Exercises that make the situation worse include sit-ups - anything that involves stretching forward in a hunch. So if you do sit-ups, make absolutely sure you're devoting twice as much time into stretching back the other way.

To balance the muscles, you need to stretch the front muscles and tighten the back ones. One simple (and simply amazing) stretch is to lie backwards over an exercise ball. Don't do it if anything hurts, but try it every morning and you're onto something.

Another amazing stretch for anyone who works on a computer all day even stretches your fingers to relieve texting/mouse aches. Stand in front of a wall, about three feet back. Leave your left leg where it is and place your right toes and ball of foot against the wall with the heel on the ground, keeping both legs straight. Straighten arms up and put palms against the wall, fingers spread, gently resting forehead against the wall if you wish. Breathe normally and swap after 30 seconds.

Make a habit of these and you'll notice you breathe easier and deeper and feel better. Much better.