Is Sitting the New Smoking!?

Author - Melissa Folly

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 Is Sitting the New Smoking!?

 By Melissa Folly Shires Chiropractic Clinic.

We all do it and probably more that we realise. Catching up on work, get into a good book, TV programme, searching the web or taking a long drive... Sitting, sitting, SITTING!?

Even if you are active about your health and exercise regularly it seem that active people sit just as much as their couch potato peers .

A study from the International Journal of Behavioural Nutritional and Physical Activity 2012 reported that on average we spend 64 hours a week sitting despite any activity outside this that's around 9 hours a day!

Your body is designed to MOVE! Sitting for long time periods causes your body to shut down at the metabolic level and slows your circulation, therefore you use less blood sugar and burn less fat, leading to an increase in risk of heart disease and diabetes.

Five Reasons WHY to avoid the chair when you can.

1.                  Prolonged sitting reduces circulation to the brain, affecting creativity and mood.

2.                  Poor posture at your desk weakens your back muscles and tightens your chest.

3.                  Sedentary behaviour has been linked to various illnesses; cancer, heart disease, diabetes.

4.                  Slouching increases the laxity in your spinal ligaments and it can take 30 minutes for them to regain stability to effectively support the spine when walking.

5.                  When your sitting your hip flexors tighten up reducing your hip and lower back range of movement and can lead to injury.

Five ways to get on your FEET!

1.                  SET REMINDERS – on your computer or phone, every 20 minutes prompting you to get up, move and re set your posture!

2.                  WALK and TALK – catching up with friends or colleges, instead of sitting in a coffee shop or conference room, get out the thermos flask and walk!

3.                  Keep Hydrated – increasing the amount of trips to the kitchen to fill up with fluid will also increase the amount of trips to the WC :)

4.                  TALK on your FEET – take phone calls standing up, and if you have room pace around too.

5.                  GOALS – try getting in 5'000 steps a day, you can download aps to track your daily activity .

So stand up now, take a few steps and breath deeply - Its good for your body and your mind! The increase in oxygen that you get by breathing in a full inhalation helps to feed the brain increasing concentration and efficiency … Helping to affect your health and the health of your business!