Rest & Recovery – Part 4 Posture:

Rest & recovery are critical components of any successful training program. Rest is time spent sleeping & time that you are not training. Recovery can be referred to as repair. A whole body/mind repair. Overall wellness. Sleep, water, nutrition & posture are at the top of the list.

We sit too often & for too long! Some may be standing at work too long. Others may be hunched over the kitchen counter prepping for hours. And how many people are in the same position for a huge portion of the day glued to their phones… what a pain in the neck & other body parts!

The latest research is showing that it’s not so much what our posture actually is (example: hips uneven while standing or anterior or posterior tilt while standing) but rather that we stay in that one position too long. If that’s the case, there’s no point going to the gym thinking we’re going to ‘fix’ our posture while we’re there if the activities we are doing at home or work are keeping us in the same posture for an extended period of time. But still go to the gym for other reasons!

There is no ideal posture, we’re all different. Any posture that is maintained for too long will result in dysfunction & possibly pain. We need to learn how to function better. Regular movement is key. We can stop stressing over what’s the best way to stand or sit… just move more & move more often.

I’m sitting while researching & writing. I’m sure you’re sitting while reading this. Once you’re done reading & drinking your coffee, get up & move around for a few minutes rather than sitting long after your mug of coffee is empty. And getting up long enough to refill isn’t quite long enough… move for at least a few minutes. Why do some of us sit for extended periods to the point of becoming so stiff & sore that it’s much more difficult to get up? We’re much better off to sit & move in intervals to keep feeling good.

Is your health & well being important enough to you for you to discipline yourself to make sure you start moving more each day so you will feel better? Now is a good time to get started. If you are experiencing aches & pains… move more & prove to yourself that it does make you feel better. Moving regularly throughout the day is an important part of our overall wellness & recovery.

Enjoy your R&R – What are you waiting for? Get up & get moving!

For more information contact: kandice@persona.ca