Just Move
Here we are in 2024 and I know that many of you have maybe made the resolution or the decision to incorporate more exercise into your life this coming year - and that is a great decision! However, if you have not been a regular exerciser in the past, it is likely going to be a bit more of a challenge for you and you may not find the immediate success you are looking for despite your good intentions. Building new habits takes time, a plan, a back-up plan, a little bit of determination and discipline and a lot of grace and not expecting perfection. With all of this in mind, I thought today of all days would be a great day to talk about something you can do to help yourself reach your fitness goals for 2024! Why today? Today is National Take the Stairs Day! Yep, that’s apparently a thing – but let’s go with it because it’s a good one.
Taking the stairs or parking further out in the parking lot or deep cleaning the house or washing a car, these are all what is called natural movement (also known as functional movement). Natural movement is one of the commonalities found in all the Blue Zones. In case that term is new to you, Blue Zones are areas in the world that have the most centenarians and some of the lowest rates of chronic disease. In other words, people are living longer and healthier in these areas than they are in other areas. A good deal of research has been done by Dan Buettner and others on the Blue Zones and natural movement (usually in the form of walking or climbing stairs) is found repeatedly in these areas.
Natural movement, like most exercise, improves mobility and flexibility as well as balance and coordination. It helps strengthen your core and is good for your mental health, your joint health and weight management. Natural movement not only helps you attain all the attributes I just listed but it is an easy thing to fit into your day and can help lessen the burden of how much you feel you need to exercise at the gym or at home. In fact, if you have a lot of natural movement in your day, your additional exercise needs could be very small. Incorporating natural movement into your day can also help keep the ball of momentum going on days when you may not make it to the gym.
I am a big fan of incorporating exercise into vacations as it helps you feel better and enjoy your surroundings more. However, if you think I am talking about that smelly hotel gym, you are wrong (ok, maybe I’ve done that a few times). In fact, exercising on vacation is my favorite time to exercise mostly because it is usually natural movement such as hiking in the mountains or walking the beach or a planned activity such as skiing, swimming, or biking. When you choose activities you enjoy or that become a natural part of the day (such as walking into town to go to the store), it is much more interesting and fun and you may not even realize you are getting such great exercise.
So, if you like to go to fitness classes or have a gym membership or workout with weights at home, all of those are great and important for your health but try adding in more natural movement into your life in small areas and build upon that as you are able. You will be surprised at how much of a difference it can make.
For more ideas and tips on how to upgrade your health in 2024 and reduce your risk for chronic disease and how to do it in a way that is effective but not overwhelming, follow me on Instagram and subscribe for free at the bottom of any of my website pages to receive the weekly blog post as well as upcoming exciting news and information. Together let’s transform your health!