Fitness at work
As we head into autumn and the evenings begin to close in, it becomes easy to let exercise fall by the wayside. Long, stressful days behind a desk can also have a negative impact on health, happiness and productivity.
ThinQ Fitness, online fitness provider, has created a series of tips and workouts to help combat deskbound inactivity to inject a burst of feel good energy.
Research from the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine has found employees who spent 2.5 hours a week being physically active were more satisfied with the quantity and quality of their work. Dedicating just 30 minutes a day to some sort of activity can really make a difference.
Anna Lovelock, Fitness Director at ThinQ Fitness, says: ““Sitting at a desk all day can lead to tension in the lower back and the shoulders, this 15 minute workout stretches these areas out and provides a welcome escape to work, even if it is just for a few minutes at time.”
Time and financial pressures are the biggest barriers preventing many people from exercising. ThinQ Fitness offers advice on how to build exercise into your daily routine without breaking the bank.
Here are the Top Ten Tips for burning calories during a work day in the office:
Take the stairs not the lift: You may get out of breath walking the stairs but if you opt to take the lift instead your fitness will never improve. Build up you speed and the number of times you walk the stairs over time.
Get up: Each hour, walk to the water fountain or across the office. Just moving around every so often will increase your calories burn.
Take a break: Lunchtimes are the ideal time to get outdoors and walk. Choose a local park and ask a colleague to go for a walk and talk with you.
Office workout: Get moving at your desk with this quick blast of movement in a 15 minute desk workout.
Walk, don't phone: Face-to-face chats can be more constructive than e-communications, and the exercise will add to your daily cardio tally.
Computer Squat Thrust: Start on the chair, lift your bottom off the just slightly; hold that position whilst you complete the letter or spreadsheet entries. Ok, that’s one squat done, four more to go.
Boring Meeting Buttock Squeeze: As each presentation slide comes up squeeze those buttocks hard, hold for 30 seconds and release.
Desk yoga: Try a 20-minute gentle yoga session that can be done at your desk!
Do the tea run: The perfect excuse to get up and carry cups requiring strength and balance. You also have the added benefit of doing people a favour (just hold off the biscuits!)
Desk balances: Sat at your desk, straighten your legs out in front of you and hold for 30 seconds, strengthening your upper legs and tummy muscles.
ThinQ Fitness is an affordable solution to exercising at work or at home, with some videos free of charge or others costing as little as 49p. Visit www.thinqfitness.com for more information.
Femalefirst Taryn Davies
Tagged in Health exercise Healthy Body fitness tips Workout Energy