Move More #2

We're a nation of sitters. TV binge-watching, desk jobs, and the allure of the internet all contribute to that fact that most of us spend at least 50% of our day sitting down. The more we sit, the higher our risk of first-world diseases of affluence: diabetes, obesity, cardiovascular disease and cancer.

We need to recognize that it's as important to decrease overall sedentary time as it is to maintain a regular practice of intense, formal exercise. How can we resist the call of the sofa and work more movement into our daily lives?

Empower Yourself
Strangely enough, fitness programs can make us feel less empowered to be physical on our own. Remember, the point of formal training, like a group fitness class or a morning run, is to make movement more accessible and joyful in your life outside the gym.

Start putting your gym fitness moves into play everywhere else: play Frisbee, run up a flight of stairs, jump off a low wall, kick a soccer ball. Make those lunges, squat jumps and push kicks you do in the gym pay off playing in the park with friends and family. Enjoy moving!

Treat Your Feet
Your smallest muscles can dramatically affect how you feel and move. Experts suggest focusing on the feet for big results. There are 33 joints in the foot but we use about 3 of them. Hard-soled shoes and flat walking surfaces offer the feet little stimulation.

Solve that by going barefoot whenever possible and massaging your feet with a small ball daily. Massage can open up the fascia and musculature that runs between and around your foot joints. Surprisingly, this small action can also release the hamstrings, hips, and lower back - setting you up for more freedom of motion later on.

Have confidence in your body's ability to move this week and 

give your feet some well-deserved TLC.

Stay Active, Keep Moving and 

Enjoy Your Food