MUST STOP SITTING!

I'm sure you've heard sitting is the new smoking. (High heels are also the new smoking, but that's a whole different blog...)

Sitting is terrible. Why? Because when we sit for long stretches, we are often in a hideous position. That is, our alignment is complete crap. We usually sit at the computer for hours at a time, our heads too far forward, our neck muscles straining to hold our heavy (8 lb.) heads in this precarious position, our upper backs rounded and hunched, our shoulders slumped and curved forward, our spinal column compressed, our hips perpetually in the flexed position. When we sit still for hours, our blood flow is hampered, our oxygen consumption is lowered, our muscles become tight and short (or tight and overly long), and our joints become stiff with disuse.

(Here I am, sitting at the computer, typing this blog, and doing EVERYTHING I NEED TO STOP!)

How can we combat this tendency to sit??? After all, some of us must sit in order to work, to earn a paycheck, to feed ourselves and keep a roof over our heads.

Those folks who sit on a computer for a living need to devise ways to keep moving the body at regular intervals. Sitting still should last no longer than half an hour straight without a break. Every thirty minutes: stand up, stretch your arms overhead, twist at the waist, take a few deep breaths, circle your shoulders, and then sit back down. If you can take a longer break, go for a quick walk, maybe up and down a flight of stairs. Keep your posture in mind while you are seated, to minimize the negative effects on the body.

When driving long distances, we run into the same problems: sitting for hours at a time with almost no movement. Remember to take breaks at least every 2 hours. Get out of the car, walk around, stretch, switch drivers when possible. You can also do a few simple stretches while at the wheel: Grip the steering wheel with both hands at 9 and 3 o'clock. Pull the elbows straight back and squeeze the shoulder blades together while exhaling. As you inhale, just relax. Repeat several times. This exercise strengthens the muscles between the shoulder blades and opens the chest, helping to maintain good posture.

For the rest of us: plan activities throughout the day that do NOT involve sitting. Get off Facebook! Check your email ONCE and then shut it down! Stop checking that Twitter feed, Instagram, Snap Champ, Pinterest board, MySpace, LinkedIn, whatever! Make a list of stuff you can do INSTEAD of sitting. Grab your yoga mat and do a few poses. Pull out those old exercise DVDs and get your sweat on. Vacuum, dust, mop, scrub, rinse, repeat. Rake some leaves, shovel snow, plant some seeds, water the garden. Clean out a closet or maybe just a drawer. Amaze yourself with all the stuff you can get done when you're not sitting still.

Then for a reward, give yourself a hot bath or a nap. Or both. Some days we need both.

If you have more brilliant ideas about how to reduce the time we spend sitting, please share them in the comment section!