When you think of things that might threaten your life, you probably don’t think, “sitting.” However, research shows that sitting too much is one of the biggest potential threats to our health.
“We are sitting ourselves to death. We weren’t designed to sit as much as we do,” says James Levine, a professor of medicine at the Mayo Clinic. “The chair is out to kill us.”
One hour of exercise doesn’t negate long periods of sitting, especially with poor posture. Exercise is vital, but it doesn’t undo the damage done by extended periods of sitting.
Did you know your metabolism slows down by 90% after just 30 minutes of sitting? That means YOU slow down after 30 minutes of sitting—it makes all your PD symptoms a lot worse. Just think of how stiff you feel when you first stand up.
These are just a few of the problems too much sitting can cause:
- Back Pain – Up to 90% more pressure is in the lower back when sitting versus standing.
- Neck Pain – Poor sitting alignment will cause forward head posture.
- Stiffness and Slowness – Sitting can tighten up muscles and pull joints out of alignment.
- Cognitive Decline – “Foggy” brain
- Depression and Anxiety – Decline in mood
- Constipation – The gut slows down, too!
Of course, we can’t stop sitting altogether, but there are things we can do to protect our bodies from the negative effects of sitting. The first step is to just start sitting up straighter.
Watch this video to learn how to improve your posture while sitting:
Follow these steps to strengthen your core and back muscles so that you can sit up straight with correct posture:
- Sit at the edge of your chair.
- Distribute your body weight evenly on both hips (sit bones and pubic bone).
- Bend your knees at a right angle. Keep your knees even with your hips and aligned with your feet.
- Keep your feet flat on the floor.
- Draw yourself up and straight and try to hold for a few seconds.
- Set an alarm for every 30 minutes to remind yourself it’s time to get up and walk around. When you sit back down, sit tall and straight.
** If you are in a wheelchair and cannot get up, still try to sit up with good posture. This core activation is important even if you cannot get up. It still matters!
Practice this throughout your day, every day!
Go forth and conquer,
💜 Coach Kimberly
Now in Session: Rebel Fit Club’s Posture School—In-Person and Virtual!
Coach Kimberly instructs this five-week exercise series to address one of the most problematic symptoms of Parkinson’s: stooped posture, which causes falls, pain, and crowds your breathing and digestion. You will learn lifelong exercises that you can do every day to prevent or treat poor posture. We also offer an in-person, seated version of this class for our fighters who can’t exercise on the floor. If you want to feel stronger, sit and stand straighter, and move better, contact Kimberly today to get on the list for our next session!
Would you like to be a part of our Posture School, but live too far away to come to the Rebel Fit Club? Not a problem—we have Virtual Posture School!
There are many benefits to taking Posture School virtually:
- Classes are taught in an easy, step-by-step, building block process.
- You get a new workout five days a week for five weeks—that equals 25 workouts!
- You get to do it in your own home, so no need to miss out because you live too far away.
- You can ask a loved one to join you in the workouts.
- Workouts are recorded, so you pick the time of day that’s most convenient for you.
- You can also go back to previous workouts if one feels especially helpful.
** This course is for people who can get up and down from the ground easily and independently. If you are at high risk for falls, ask about our seated version of Posture School.
The introductory price for Virtual Posture School is just $49! Click here to purchase.
Ready to take back your fight?
Contact me to get started in Kimberly Berg’s Rebel Fit Club Parkinson’s Boxing classes today. We have online workouts, too!
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