The Opposite of Sitting
The catch phrase, “Sitting is the new smoking” has been getting a lot of traction lately. Too much of anything is not ideal and sitting is no exception. The body can adapt to almost any environment it finds itself in. When it comes adaptations due to sitting, here are just a few things that will happen:
- Leg muscles atrophy
- Spinal curves alter and reduce ability to absorb shock
- Shoulders rounds forward making it harder to inhale properly
- Arm muscles increase compensation due to improper shoulder position
- Head position shifts forward and alters ability to balance
- Blood flow circulation decreases
- Kinesthetic awareness decreases (knowing where you are in space)
- Hipflexor muscles shorten and increase pressure on low back
- Intra-abdominal pressure increases and affects digestion
- Metabolism decreases and increases likelihood of weight gain
The list goes on, but you get the idea. Limit the amount of sitting for prolonged periods of time as often as possible. Take breaks to get your body moving. You will be far more productive in the long run than just trying to hammer out projects for hours on end. Here is one very simple move you can practice during your sitting breaks that is in many ways the opposite of sitting. It is a very old yoga pose that has been modified so most people can achieve benefits. Click Here. Follow along. Try it out. See how you feel before and after. Make it a regular practice. Break up your sitting with something to revive your body and mind.
