Add movement to your daily life
Move it or lose it! The body needs to move, and move often. Movement is linked to every function and process in the body. It is essential for maintaining both physical and digestive health.
Intentional movement – not just your daily workout routine – is essential throughout the day. Movement in your day helps the body perform better – both physically and mentally.
Benefits of movement
- Strength – a person’s strength is based on the load that a muscle can hold or endure. When you move during your regular day, you are engaging muscles and smaller muscle groups that don’t always get attention at the gym.
- Energy – the “get up and go” energy that a person experiences on a daily basis is linked to activity level. Moving throughout the day (especially on off days from the gym) will help you increase and maintain an increased energy level.
- Sleep – regular movement fosters a calmness throughout the entire body and promotes a more relaxing and restful sleep.
- Mood and stress reduction – All types of activity contribute to improved mood and stress Endorphins, the body’s feel good neurotransmitters, are released during activity creating a natural feeling of well-being and decreased feelings of stress. Movement is also a form of meditation in motion. When one engages in movement the mind is focused on the body leaving little time for thoughts of life’s stressful events. Movement has also been proven to decrease levels of depression and anxiety.
Movement and exercise share many common health benefits, but I can’t stress enough that movement should be a daily practice regardless if you are “exercising” that day or not. It’s so important to move the body to keep it healthy, strong, and to prevent diseases.
Increase movement without going to the gym
- Take the stairs instead of the elevator.
- Park your car further away at work or at the store.
- Get up and walk around the office every hour and say hi to someone!
- Stand up and walk around your living room during commercial breaks of your favourite show
- Convert your desk at work to a standing desk
- Cook your own meals – this has many additional benefits besides just getting you to move more!
So… move it or lose it!
