Welcome to the 8th Leitz Office Games e-newsletter I hope you enjoyed the Olympics in Beijing this August? From the opening ceremony when my old friend Mark Foster carried the UK flag all the way through to the closing ceremony, the Olympics was everything I hoped it would be. Becky Adlington's first gold in the 400 freestyle made me cry. I was so pleased for her and Jo Jackson, who also picked up a bronze in the same event. Later of course Becky went on to win another gold and set a world record in the 800m. The first British person to do so for a hundred years. She is a lovely girl and very down to earth, life will never be the same for her again. Well done the whole Adlington family and her coach Bill Firness. Well done British swimming with 6 medals! This month, at our desks we are going to concentrate on 3 exercises which will help strengthen and tone our bodies: the seat raise, a side lean and a wall lean, all are very easy to incorporate into your working day, so don't hold back! Thank you again to Leitz for giving me the opportunity to share these exercises with you. They would like to tell you about some of their innovative quality products - you can even request a sample or more information. Good luck!   FREE SAMPLE OFFER This month we are giving away 100 Heavy Duty Staplers worth £19.99 each! The Leitz 5552 Heavy Duty Stapler uses Flat Clinch technology to reduce stapling height by 30% so piles of paper stack lower. The real benefit to you of this technology is seen when you file stapled paper in lever arch files and ring binders - you can fit more paper into each file - a far better use of space. Also, this stapler has a 10 year guarantee and can staple up to 60 sheets at a time. We will even include 1000 staples. Simply click on the link below to request your free Leitz Heavy Duty Stapler. The full Leitz Stapler & Hole Punch range is available from all good stationery suppliers, if you would like more information on our current promotions please email marketinguk@esselte.com Safe positions Sitting Safe Position Standing Safe Position Sit on the edge of your chair with your legs square at 90° to your back. With your feet hip width apart keep your back straight but relaxed. Ensure your shoulders are level and square with the front of your body. Rest your arms by your sides. Stand upright with your feet hip width apart. Ensure your knees are soft - by that I mean slightly bent and not locked. Rest your arms by your sides and keep your back straight but relaxed. Keep your bottom tucked in and feel the weight of your body through your feet. Seat raise     Directions Start in the sitting 'safe' position. With your feet hip width apart, push your weight through your feet to stand up. Keep your back straight - don't lean forward. Use your thigh muscles not your back. Work up to repeating this 10 times in a row by the end of the month.   Please Note ALWAYS START EACH EXERCISE FROM A 'SAFE' POSITION THIS SHOULD NOT REPLACE YOUR NORMAL EXERCISE ROUTINE NEVER PERFORM EXERCISES IN HEELS THESE EXERCISES ARE JUDGED TO BE SAFE BUT NEITHER SHARRON NOR LEITZ ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR INJURY TO YOURSELF OR OTHERS Side lean   Directions This is a great exercise to do whist standing by the printer or photocopier, or even whilst waiting for the kettle to boil. Its a good example of Callisthenics - exercising using your own body weight to provide resistance rather than needing to use fitness equipment. Lean sideways against a wall, keeping your leg from foot up to hip in contact with the wall. Apply pressure to the outside of your knee into the wall as hard as you can, press and hold for 20-30 seconds, then repeat for your other leg. The more frequently you do this toning exercise the better the result. This exercises the muscles on the top sides of your thighs, the wobbly bits we like to keep hidden! Wall lean   Directions Again this is a great exercise to do whist chatting or waiting for the kettle to boil - you just need a wall. Remember, its a good example of Callisthenics - exercising using your own body weight to provide resistance - tensing your muscles for 30 seconds helps them to tone. Lean your back against a wall, keeping your head and neck aligned to your spine. Keep your back and bottom in contact with the wall and your feet firmly planted on the ground a step width away from the wall. Hold this position for about 30 seconds - until you feel the front of your upper legs (thighs and quads) begin to tire or quiver. Some more of my top moments from the Olympics   I was lucky enough to be in the stadium when Usain Bolt, bolted like a streak of lightening down the straight for the 100m in a new world record, and jogged over the line, what a fine week he had. I also managed to see our own Christina during the early rounds of her 400 when she looked really strong. I strongly tipped her for the final. The stadium was a magical place as was the water cube. Of course I have to mention that man, the human fish, Michael Phelps. As the week went on, the 8 gold medal races became a real theatre event; with impossibly tough odds in the men's freestyle relay against the French, to impossibly close shaves in the 100 fly, to goggles filling up. Eventually to be able to say I was witness to an Olympian winning eight gold medals was a site I will treasure. Finally Boris Johnson and the closing ceremony was everything I hoped it would be. More fireworks but also humour and creativity. This is what London will bring to the 2012 Games as well as a legacy of sport and facilities we so desperately need here in the UK. I was very proud, as I always am, but especially this last week.. of being British. I hope you were too?   Did you enjoy this month's 'at-your-desk' exercises from Sharron Davies? We like to receive feedback so if you have any comments or questions please email marketinguk@esselte.com. Esselte is Europe's leading office supplier and one of the largest global office supplies manufacturers. The company develops innovative solutions that simplify the modern home and workplace and sells more than 30,000 different office products in over 120 countries through 29 offices around the world. Its principal brands include Esselte, Leitz, and Xyron. More information can be found by visiting www.esselte.co.uk