Getting exercise is the key to being in shape. We all know this is an absolute fact, but the life of an apartment resident can be a very, very busy with very little time for hitting the gym.
Your body enjoys and responds well to being active. Sitting still for too long can actually be bad for you as tension develops. Being active also helps your body deal with stress too!
I have stumbled across a number of activities that you can do from the comfort of your very own desk to help keep your bones, muscles, and joints happy. These tasks won't really help you lose weight or get you cardiovascular-ly fit, but they will help you feel more energetic and give you an overall feeling of healthiness.
NOTE: Remember to always breathe when you are doing any type of exercise. Holding your breath is bad for you.
Here we go:
Simple Stretch- Start with a simple stretch by reaching both arms up above your head, leaning back in your chair and stretching your arms. This really helps in loosening up the tension that the upper body suffers from due to sitting all day.
Pectorals- Giving your upper an additional stretch will really help relieve the upper body tension. Clasp your hands behind your head and try to press your shoulder blades together. Hold for a few seconds and repeat a few times. This will stretch the pectoral area as well as release some of the tension in your upper back.
Chair Bend- While sitting in your chair with your feet flat on the floor about a foot apart from eachother...lean forward and attempt to touch your toes. Hold this for a few seconds and then slowly pull back up and repeat. Flexing your abdominal muscles as you do this will help.
Tilt Your Head- Make sure not to forget about your neck. Try tilting your head to the left, right, front, and back a few times holding still and tight for a few seconds in each position.
Be sure that you are still breathing.
Wrists- You can also stretch your wrists by pulling your hand back using your fingers on each hand and then pulling the fingers down at the wrist the other way.
There are virtually a large number of small exercises that you can do to keep your body from being to static. Remember though, you should never substitute these exercises if you goal is to get in shape or lose weight. For those you need to hit the gym.
