No Time for Exercise? I Beg to Differ…
June 15, 2010
By Sandy Brown, Director of Organizational Effectiveness
For those of us who cannot find time to exercise, here are some helpful tips from Magellan, an employee assistance program, on getting some exercise at your desk and elsewhere:
For your abdomen: Straighten your back and draw in your navel as close to your spine as you can without holding your breath. Hold until you can’t hold it any longer. You can do this simple exercise at your desk, while waiting in line, sitting in a meeting or driving to and from work. This simple move will help strengthen your abs, improve your posture and flatten your stomach.
For your arms: With arms out to the side at shoulder height, make dinner plate-size circles with your fists. Do 10 circles, then reverse direction and repeat.
For your legs: Do simple leg squats. Place your hands behind your head. With feet shoulder-width apart, lower yourself as if about to sit at your desk chair. Do 10 leg squats and repeat.
For your core: Lift your legs off the floor and hold them straight out. Hold for 15 seconds, release and repeat. Try this core strengthening exercise while sitting at your desk.
To burn more calories overall: Look for opportunities to stand. Stand while talking on the phone. Eat lunch standing up. Trade instant messaging and phone calls for walks to other desks or offices. You automatically burn more calories standing than sitting.
These are just a few exercises and activities available to you for the office environment. What other suggestions can you provide or which exercises have worked best for you? Please share so that everyone can benefit and improve our health together.
Filed under: Industry Insight
