Are You Sitting Yourself to Bad Health?
Are You Sitting Yourself to Bad Health?
By Lisa Byrne, B.S Exercise Sciences | Certified Pilates Instructor
NABBW’s Boomer Women\’s Fitness Expert
We have something in common right off the bat. Chances are you\’re sitting down while reading this just like I\’m sitting here at my laptop while writing this article.
How long you been sitting? If it\’s more than 55 minutes, get up.
Yep, get up. Blood is getting stuck in your legs, and pooled at your feet. If your knees are bent you\’re further impeding the return flow back to your heart.
That sitting position does 3 other unfavorable things to your body:
- Closes your hips, right where the leg come into the trunk.
- Forces you to let go of yourself- in other words, you\’re a chunk of weight in a chair that doesn\’t care.
- Allows your metabolism to slow down.
Continue to repeat this recipe frequently and over time you\’re headed for poor circulation, weight gain, and general malaise on a consistent basis.
Who wants that?
Then get up.
Okay, good to see you up here!
Now, what are we going to do now that we\’re up? I\’ve got some good moves for you.
Ten moves to revive your body. We start simple, and gently move towards a bit more dynamic, but never crazy. They\’ll revive and boost your brain, your mental outlook and your well being.
All you need is the space in front, side and back of you. Total requirement is about a 4 ft. x 4 ft. space. That\’s it. Got it?
Okay, in a moment, I\’ll share the short video with you below for exactly what to do. I\’ll talk you through it and get you comfortable with simple and practical moves that rejuvenate you immediately.
You see, the limited range of motion, rather, the non-range of motion you\’re giving yourself while sitting is actively resulting in future mobility problems. If you have lower back pain and you sit a lot you\’re actually making it worse.
Motion is Lotion.
Keep the joints loose, mobile, active and do it on a regular basis. This way you let your body, brain, nervous system, and attitude get spiced at regular intervals.
Does it make sense that if you\’re plunked in your seat, frozen in place more often than not, that you\’re forcing musculature in your lower back to curve under and bear the weight of the body you have let go of merely by sitting?
In this position your trunk, your core, your middle- whatever you want to call it- is not called to the job. It\’s job is strength and stability. Core strength and core stability. It can be a beautiful marriage between these two, but it\’s up to you, the person, to remember that and show your middle that you care enough to support it.
And I\’m not talking about athletes, people that workout, jocks or gym rats. I\’m talking about Plain Jane and Joe Schmoe. Everyone has a core and everyone should care enough about health over time by remembering to get up often!
Think about the cost in pain and misery of your body, let alone the mental attitude that can look half empty just by sitting too long. Get up and get moving. It takes just 5 minutes.
You\’ll no doubt spike your energy, your attitude and surely give a boost to your behind that may encourage you to Do It Again, 55 minutes later!
Lisa Byrne is the owner and chief creative officer at Pilates for Sport, LLC in Bucks County, Pa. She has her B.S in Exercise Physiology and is a Certified Pilates Instructor. Lisa has operated her fully equipped Pilates studio since 1999 and has been in the Health and Fitness Industry for 23 years. The studio space is home to private sessions, small group training, and the outdoor circuit buffet, sure to get anyone grooving. Visitors to the movement studio span the range and include average Boomers looking for diversity; young people with Asperger’s-Autism; hard core athletes looking to ‘loosen up’; and those in need of chronic pain management through movement. Learn more about Lisa on her site, Move More Today.
