Sitting is the New Smoking- and Pilates is the Answer

I won’t sugarcoat it: a desk job is bad for your health. Sitting for long periods can cause serious body aches and pains- in your back, neck, and shoulders to name a few- but that’s not the half of it. Research has shown that sitting for long periods can lead to early death, mostly due to the way it increases your risk of musculoskeletal disorders, obesity, certain cancers, and heart disease. And it’s not just our desk jobs that keep us stationary. 90% of most American’s leisure time is spent sitting: whether during our commutes, meeting up with friends for lunch or coffee, or watching TV.  A recent study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that only 3% of Americans sit for less than 4 hours a day and were physically active. Only 3%!  

The benefits of being in that 3% are improved fitness levels, improved strength, better bone health, better mood, and an overall reduction in disease and depression. 

Are you in the 3%? With Mindful Movement Pilates studio, you can be.

Welcome to the 3%: Incorporating Mindful Movement Pilates studio into your weekly routine

Not only is Pilates a low impact way to build muscle strength, its focus on postural alignment, core strength, and muscle balance improve flexibility and endurance– all foundational to the desk-bound worker. Stronger shoulders and an aligned spine does more than make you look good in summer tanks, it will also minimize the low back pain that usually occurs with sitting all day. Strengthening your core is about more than that flat stomach you’re after–it will improve your posture, reducing muscle tension and chronic pain that would otherwise stick with you long after your office workday is done. The World Health Organization’s published guidelines on physical activity recommend adults aged 18-64 do at least 150 minutes (2.5 hours) of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise a week plus muscle-strengthening activities twice a week (or 300 minutes of moderately intense exercise a week for even more benefits! (Shout out to all the high achievers!). 

So how do you make this happen? 

2-3 focused, individualized Pilates sessions a week at Mindful Movement Pilates Studio hits the WHO recommendations, and will get you well on your way to combatting the mental and physical evils that a desk job brings. Yes, you could log your minutes by walking outside or running at the gym, but we firmly believe that Pilates–and specifically Pilates at our studio- is the optimal way for you to get and/or stay healthy. There’s only so much time in the day, and we need to wring as much benefit from our workouts as possible. Pilates at Mindful Movement will strengthen and lengthen your whole body, your mind, and your spirit in non-competitive, supportive sessions tailored specifically to your unique needs. And because it’s never too late to start reversing the damage of the desk job, visit us to get started today.