We sit ALL the time. At work, on the sofa, driving, you name it there’s a chair ready for you. Prolonged periods of time sitting can significantly affect your physical health. Think of the position your hips & spine are in when you sit….
Now you’ve pictured yourself like an actual prawn, maybe posture is quite important! Your spine is the centre of your body, it is next to your internal organs & that crucially important spinal cord that allows all the messages from your brain to pass through to the rest of your body.
Now you’re sitting up a little straighter, how does it feel? (if you didn’t pick up on the subtle ‘sit up straight when you read this’ do it now).
When we sit up, the muscles around the spine help you to extend & lengthen. Your organs have more space & aren’t so squished. You can more than likely breath better & fuller. Your chest is more open, and you instantly decrease pressure on your vertebrae & ligaments of your spine.
Imagine that slouch position for 8 hours at your desk, what impact that’s having on your body, eek!
There have been several studies on sitting for extended periods of time. The research showed that those who sat for 8 hours a day & had no physical activity had a risk of dying similar to that posed by obesity and smoking. The human body is incredible & is very adaptable, so the body will adapt to your ‘normal’. So, if that’s sitting the majority of the time that's what it will expect. However, as we are all well aware moving the body is much more beneficial for longevity. Here comes the benefits:
Benefits of moving the body (particularly the spine):
Prevent muscle fatigue
Improve circulation
Decrease stress of the ligament of the spine
Reduce wear & tear on the joints
Encourages proper alignment of the joints
Increase energy
Decrease back pain
Improve digestion
Easier breathing
There’s many more but I’ll stop there. So next time you’re sitting for an extended period, remember….
Sitting is the new smoking! Sit up, get up, move your body!
If you’d like to have some guidance see the classes below: