Take a Stand Against Sitting

March 5, 2015      |      Posted on Posted in Total Well-Being
Take a Stand Against Sitting

Ever since the invention of the chair, habitual sitting has become a ubiquitous part of everyday life. Sitting at work, sitting while eating, sitting while commuting, and sitting while watching television seems normal. While sitting seems relatively harmless, studies show that habitual sitting can lead to a wide range of negative health outcomes such as postural dysfunction, musculoskeletal pain, increased likeliness of injury, and higher rates for chronic diseases such as high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes and cancer. Here are some easy ways to get moving throughout the day:

Exercising when watching television

Take this time to raise your heart rate by doing burpees, squats, sit-ups or push-ups during commercial breaks. Another idea is to place home exercise equipment close to the television so you can enjoy your favorite show and reap all the benefits of activity at the same time!

Take a standing break

For every hour you spend sitting at work, take 5-10 minutes to stand up and stretch. If there is time, take a walk to get your blood flowing! Even better, opt for a standing workstation. For ideas, watch the CORE Wellness YouTube video on how to create your own standing desk!

Active hang outs!

Instead of meeting friends at a restaurant or the movies where everyone is sitting, grab coffee to go and stroll through the park or try out a fun activity you can do together like running, yoga, rock climbing or dancing!