Sitting is the New Smoking - Get Moving

Your body is designed for regular movement, but many of us spend the bulk of our day sitting. On average, a US adult spends 9 to 10 hours each day sitting. When you've been sitting for a long period of time and then get up, a number of molecular cascades occur. For example, within 90 seconds of standing up, the muscular and cellular systems that process blood sugar, triglycerides, and cholesterol—are activated. All of these molecular effects are activated simply by carrying your own body weight. These cellular mechanisms are also responsible for pushing fuel into your cells and, if done regularly, will radically decrease your risk of diabetes and obesity.

Sitting for an extended period of time affects many bodily functions like your digestion, body posture and alignment, brain functions slow down when you enter a sedentary state and circulation becomes poor. All which can be improved simply by moving around. 

So how do you re-train your body and routine? Start with setting ACHIEVABLE goals- consider a stand up desk in the office, park a little further away in the parking lot, take the stairs rather than the elevator, make a commitment within your community for accountability like yoga or Qi gong. Below are two local sources I often recommend to my patients for movement. Remember to always listen to your body!

Island Yoga - Hilton Head Island: 1012 William Hilton Pkwy Unit 1 | Phone (843) 816-5734
Jiva Yoga -Hilton Head: 1032 Wm Hilton Pkwy  | Bluffton: 3 Godfrey Place | Phone (843)247-4549 Free Qi Gong Community Group- Jarvis Creek Park at 9 a.m. Mondays and Thursdays, Veterans Memorial Park at 11 a.m. Saturdays