Find Movement You Love, And Do It

More and more, we’re learning that sitting can be detrimental to our health. Isolating exercise to an hour at the gym just isn’t enough anymore, especially when we spend so much time working at a desk just. What’s a busy person with a career and a family to do?

My answer: focus on Movement—not exercise—and find something you love!

For me, walking on an elliptical for 45 minutes is about as exciting as watching paint dry. But maybe it’s exciting for you! It’s possible that you love more intense exercises like boxing, Crossfit, Barre, or boot camps. Or maybe being out in nature biking, running, walking, or rollerskating gets your joyful juices flowing.

Whatever “it” is, find what you enjoy and do it! Don’t be boxed into the thinking that exercise needs to be at a gym or that it needs to fit some type of standard definition.

In the summer of 2013, I completed my Black Belt training (and then, First Degree Black Belt in 2018) in The Nia Technique, a holistic movement form that incorporates dance and martial arts with healing arts, like yoga, all set to fantastic music. In addition to my Nia classes, I like to focus on movement throughout the day. For me, it comes in the form of nature walks, playing, and dance. How do you move?

I’ve also been reading up on exercises you can do at work and discovered a new term to describe it: deskercise! If we all spend 8+ hours at work, let’s use some of that time to get in some movement.

Here are just a few of the fun deskercise movements you can try:

• While sitting in your chair, lift your heels off the ground. Repeat several times to perform sitting calf raises! These are also very easy to conceal if you happen to share a workspace.
• Activate your thigh muscles with a few wall sits. Stand with your back against the wall, feet out in front. Slide your back down the wall until you’re in a sitting position. Time yourself and have a goal in mind.
• Bring in light weights, and work your arms during conference calls. An added bonus: it will help you concentrate on the call rather than being distracted by replying to emails.
• Resist poor desk posture by rolling back your shoulders so your shoulder blades are pinching together. Hold for 10 seconds and repeat.
• Take the stairs!

Beyond deskercise, you can check out the growing trend that is standing desks. I have several friends who swear by them.

With love for the amazing gift of the body,