Are You Sitting Too Much?

Recent research by the CDC has shown that one in four Americans are spending far too much time sitting.

Now we know what you’re thinking. Perhaps you don’t have an office job. You’re a nurse or teacher, and you spend plenty of time on your feet doing your job. Or maybe you’re a waiter, and spend almost no time sitting during your work day.

It is great if you have a job that doesn’t keep you tied to a desk and computer - especially since time spent looking down at a screen isn’t very good for your neck or eyes either.

But when determining whether or not you're spending too much time sitting down, you also have to take into consideration leisure sitting. Yes, this is a real term, we didn’t make it up.

Think about the time you spend sitting in your car or on the train. The time you spend on your couch reading a book or watching TV in the evenings to wind down from your day. Since it’s vacation season, think about the time you spend sitting on a plane or sitting on the beach (wearing sunscreen, of course).

Now, before you get angry and think we’re suggesting you not relax or take breaks, fear not. Of course we still want you to rest, relax, and take care of yourself. We just don’t want your self care to turn against you.

One of the best things you can do to combat too much sitting is to balance it out with workouts - cardiovascular training is especially beneficial. This can be as simple as a brisk 30-minute walk (you want to get your heart rate up) four to five times per week. You can also join us in the Studio for one of our Shared Personal Training sessions, which will get you moving and incorporate strength training in addition to cardio fitness.

We also want to make sure you’re taking care of your back. Too much sitting - whether in front of a computer screen or in front of the ocean - can wreak havoc on your posture. There are some easy exercises you can do to help if you’re experiencing lower back pain or want to improve your posture.