Adding movement to your day
We were raised in an active family. You know that meme about families who run 5Ks on holidays? Yeah, that was us. We grew up playing every sport under the sun, our parents worked out regularly, we went on walks and bike rides as a family. Movement is in our DNA.
That’s not the case for everyone, nor is it true for every season of life. Sometimes we’re exhausted and busy, and even thinking about trying to move is daunting. But there are things you can do, both big and small, to increase the amount of movement in your day-to-day.
WHY IT MATTERS:
Moving your body and exercising is one of the keys to longevity. When you move, you:
improve circulation
lower your risk for certain chronic diseases
improve your heart and lung health
improve your mood
increase your energy
maintain a healthy weight.
If you’re looking for one *magical* way to feel better and be healthier, it’s movement.
Starting Small
(If you’re totally sedentary, consult with your doctor before starting an exercise regimen, and, make sure you build up to longer distances and heavier weights gradually.)
WALK: One of the easiest ways to start adding movement is by walking. That’s it. Go for a walk in the morning with your coffee, between meetings, or after work to wind down.
During the pandemic, we started every day with a 3 mile walk in a big empty parking lot. It was an easy way to get morning sunshine (shoutout circadian rhythm), and it was one of the only safe ways to connect with each other.
MAke it cout
2. EXERCISE APPS: Another great tool, for either longtime exercise enthusiasts or early-phase gym goers, is the Peloton app. You don’t need the expensive bike or tread (even though we do love both) to take advantage of everything Peloton has to offer. They've created an app that brings you an endless number of fitness classes, in your home, at your gym, or even at a hotel. Classes include:
Yoga
Strength
Cycling
Running
Outdoor Walking
and more!
These classes are on-demand, and as short as 5 minutes, or you can stack them up to make your workout as long as you’d like. Within the app, you can also filter for pregnant, low impact, or even adaptive workouts.
3. COMMUNITY: Find a community that moves you – pun very much intended. Elise plays volleyball every Thursday, Hannah plays hockey every Sunday. There are adult sports leagues all around, so pick the sport that speaks to you and sign yourself up. Not only will you get to meet people, but you’ll have a regularly scheduled date with movement.
If sports aren’t for you, try out some local fitness studios. Class Pass is a great way to try different studios to see what you like. Once you find a studio that speaks to you, join! Even if you only go once or twice a week, the routine of the workout will be helpful, and again, your community grows.
We recently joined SolidCore Pilates studio and we have to admit, we’re obsessed! The classes are challenging, the music is great, and you get to do Pilates in a dark studio, taking out any perception of judgment, from the others in the class, and more importantly, from yourself.
Give some of these tips a try, and send us a note to let us know what moves you!
