Sometimes it is hard to find the motivation to move. Maybe your energy feels low, or too many obligations to fill the time slots. Perhaps you have noticed that you are starting to feel tired, overweight, and a bit grumpy. Try to get 10 minutes of movement a day to get started on feeling better. Shoot for 2-3 sessions a week. It is short enough to be able to squeeze it in somewhere, and long enough to make you feel better. Start now and you will feel more energized than you where you were 11 minutes ago. It will boost your circulation, increase your metabolism, and help tone those muscles!
I started thinking about the 10 minutes a day when I started Kiva Therapeutics at Priest Lake. There is no lack of natural beauty to enjoy at Priest Lake, but a big lack of health clubs and because of the nature of the tourist business, it was hard to find time to exercise in the great outdoors during day light hours. I was in definite withdrawal, having been a health club girl since swimming lessons at the YMCA in early elementary school. So if you are suffering from a bit of cabin fever and live in a remote area like I do and lack access to exercise classes, try these 10 minutes a day segments to get you going through the hump.
You too will soon realize that all it takes is 10 minutes at a time- to get your energy going, and you don’t even have to shower afterwards! It is easy as eating a piece of pie and drinking a cup of coffee and way better on the waist line. If you can get 10 minutes of activity a day- three days a week, then soon enough you can do 20 minutes a day, and then 30 minutes a day. It gets easier and easier and more fun as you get in better shape. 30 minutes a day- 5 times a week is highly achievable- which is your recommended amount to have a healthy heart. So lets get going!
First- find an open space in your home that will allow a little movement.
Second- find some up beat music.
Third- Get moving to that music!
Don’t worry about form- don’t worry about how you look. Just shake your body. Need some ideas on how to shake it?
Jump up and down, twist and shout, step side to side, march in place, bring those knees to the chest, kick your behind with your heels, raise your arms and sway from side to side, clap your hands, punch the arms up towards the sky, punch the arms forward while you lunge back, grapevine to the right, grapevine to the left
Fourth- A real simple core exercise-
Take a couple of minutes and bend over and touch your toes. Roll upwards and now stretch your fingers towards the ceiling and reach backwards. Repeat 2 more times.
Fifth- A great shoulder stretch. Put your hands on the wall or chair and bend at the waist, walking your arms down the wall and your hips away from the wall. Like a Downward Dog but without having to get down on the floor.
Sixth- Drink a tall glass of water and back to your daily life with you!
Good job on doing 10 minutes of movement. You are on the road to health.
Here is a couple of YouTube videos to get you started on feeling some dance moves. Music is very subjective, so feel free to explore music and find the music that make you want to move your body.