Movement Matters

Movement matters - moving your body is important for both your physical and mental wellbeing.       Movement is different to exercising – it is about keeping the body active during your day-to-day activity.      Movement is particularly important if you have a sedentary job (even if you do regular exercise).

As technology and convenience advances come into our lives, they often remove further opportunities for body movement.    For example:

• Remote controls mean that we do not need to get up and move

• Rear cameras in cars mean that we no longer need to twist our spine to look out the back window

• Prepackaged food means that we no longer wash, chop or prepare food.

• Delivery apps mean that we do not leave the house to collect food

• Robot vacuum cleaners remove the need to physically vacuum

• Flat pavements and floors remove the need for the feet bones and muscles to be active for stability

Experiment – how can you add simple habits that will bring more movement into your day?   Some ideas:

• Get up every 60 or 90 minutes and stretch – noticing where the body is tight and focusing in those areas.    

• Put your most used kitchen items on the lower shelves – so you need to regularly squat down to get them.

• Get a small ball and roll/squeeze it with your hands & feet.

• Put light items (e.g. towels) up on higher shelves – so you need to stretch to get them.

• Sit on the floor instead of a chair (the pressure against the floor is beneficial)

• Find a suitable uneven surface to walk on with bare feet (or you can buy smooth rocks and place in an oil drip tray)

• Try walking backwards for a few minutes or walking in a zig zag instead of straight ahead for a few minutes each day

• Use a massage ball to roll bits of the body that feel stiff, sore or have not been used much during the day.

• Try crawling and doing frog hops on the floor for a few minutes each day (this is harder than you may think)

• Walk wherever and whenever you can

• Find a suitable spot where you can hang from your hands (like monkey bars) – this movement is rarely replicated in day-to-day life.