Stuck in a meeting? Exercise!
By Mary Ann Wilson, RN
The next time you find yourself stuck in a meeting, don’t just sit there, exercise! Most of us experience stiffness and lack of circulation after sitting for long periods of time. Whether the source of your stiffness comes as a result of sitting at a desk all day, spending time in long meetings at work, or just watching television, exercise is the most natural way to counteract the effects of sedentary behavior.
Seated exercises help turn seated time into an active time. So the next time you find yourself sitting in a long meeting or stuck at your desk all day, try this simple exercise. It’s a great way to combat stiffness and increase circulation.
Sit and Be Fit exercise to try the next time you’re stuck in a meeting
1. Cross the legs at the knees.
2. Lift the toes of the lower leg (calf stretch)
3. Hold 2 – 3 seconds and repeat several times.
4. Keep the toes lifted and move them side-to-side (working the shin muscles)
5. Repeat the side-to-side movement, like windshield wipers, multiple times
6. Next, lift the heel, resting on the toes and ball of the foot (a wake-up call for calf muscles)
7. Repeat multiple times.
8. Roll across the toes from the big toe to the pinky toe moving side to side (working proprioceptors in the foot)
9. Circle the ankle of top leg.
Change legs and repeat on the other side.
Do as many repetitions as is comfortable for each exercise. These exercises can be done with the legs uncrossed if the crossed-leg position is uncomfortable.
Take advantage of every opportunity to exercise! Even if find yourself stuck in a meeting you can be exercising your body. Certainly all the little efforts you make to fit exercise into your daily will pay off. Above all, you will feel and function better.
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