How to move more
Even when you can’t make it to the gym or your preferred fitness class, it’s important to prioritise moving your body at home – especially if any of the following signs are familiar. Opt for a simple yoga flow, dance around your apartment, take a walk around the block, or follow your favourite online fitness class. You can even try breaking up your workday with some stretches between meetings while working from home. No matter how you decide to move, getting out of your seat could help with these issues.
You're constantly fatigued
If you’re tired all the time, even with adequate food and sleep, maybe all you need is to move a bit more. It may seem a bit counterintuitive, but research published in Fatigue: Biomedicine, Health & Behavior found that one low to moderate-intensity exercise lasting more than 20 minutes enhances energy and decreases fatigue. “I like to tell my clients that an object in motion stays in motion,” says personal trainer Traci Mitchell. “It’s kind of like getting that big boulder of motivation moving, and once it gets moving, your energy increases.”
Here are 8 tricks to make your walking habit easy.
You’re suddenly experiencing pain
We’ve all had one of those mornings – you wake up and your lower back, knee, or shoulder is suddenly aching. But while you might be tempted to wait it out, certified personal trainers Jim Karas and Michelle Blakely suggest getting your body in motion. Just moving your muscles, loosening your joints, and getting blood pumping to that area of your body can be enough to reduce the pain, Karas says. Even clients with chronic pain – from low back pain or arthritis, for example – have improved their daily movement and ability to do chores by getting regular exercise.