It’s pretty much common knowledge at this point that sitting too much is bad for our health. Study after study comes out pointing out that sitting too much leads to poor health, some even saying that lack of physical activity poses the same level of health risks as smoking.
But what if you have to sit for your job like I do when I’m writing articles like this one? What can you do during the workday and in your free time to move more and minimize the negative impact of the time that you spend sitting?
Take Movement Breaks
The best thing you can do to help reduce the negative effects of sitting is to get moving. That includes setting aside time for exercise, but it also means taking short breaks from sitting throughout the workday. Standing up and moving around every 30 to 60 minutes or so has a large impact on health.
One study found that replacing even just 5 minutes of sitting with moderately vigorous activity, like taking a brisk walk, can improve heart health. At work, try standing up and walking around when you take a phone call, crossing the office to speak with someone in person rather than send an email, or taking the stairs to a restroom on a different floor when you need a bio break.
Work on Your Posture
When you are sitting, posture can play a role in how sitting affects your health. Slouching can stress your muscles and ligaments and lead to pain, especially in the shoulders and back. Surprisingly, it can even lead to problems like incontinence, heartburn, headaches, and constipation.
Correct, upright posture involves muscle strength, flexibility, and balance. Yoga is a great exercise to incorporate into your fitness routine to help you develop better posture. In general, any exercise that improves your muscle strength, mobility, and balance will help.
Go To the Gym
The same meta-analysis that concluded sitting carries a similar increased health risk as smoking also found that “60 to 75 minutes of moderately intense physical activity a day countered the effects of too much sitting” (cited by Mayo Clinic).
Joining a gym is a great way to motivate you to get regular physical exercise. Group training in particular can help you stay motivated to stick with your goal to move more. The type of group training we offer at Extreme Studio Performance matches you with a small group led by a personal trainer. You save money compared to one-on-one training, and you get the benefits of a supportive fitness community.
To learn more about our gym or the group training classes, click here to contact us. A fitness specialist will get in touch with you to set up a tour and free fitness evaluation.