Life During Quarantine - Daily Movement
Hey friends!
It feels like we’ve been in quarantine FOREVER….
To be completely honest, I don’t mind it that much. I didn’t realize until now that I'm more of a homebody, well.. until I get the bug to get out and then I am barely there. However, right now I would like to have the option of going out and hanging out with my friends! That is what I miss the most ... and working with some clients 🤭So, I thought it would be really helpful to hear from few experts in different fields how to deal with our current situation and implement few practices to support us during this time.Our first guest is Mark Doherty, one of the expert coaches at Boston Underground Strength Training in Waltham MA, owned by Angel Jimenez. They are private strength training facility that offer a simple, no-nonsense approach to training in a high-energy environment, focusing on both small and large group training. They are one of the few local fitness studios that I follow on social media that keep posting at home workouts and still feel like you’ve done good work.
Here is what he had to say about this whole quarantine thing and his top 5 REASONS to continue moving your body!
It’s been hard adjusting. I’m sure a lot of you, can relate to that. Even though I am working from home, I'm sitting on the couch in my pajamas drinking coffee with my laptop propped on my lap. Being a strength coach, this contrasts the very active job and lifestyle I was leading before all of this. I am also not training as often. Overall, I just feel blah.... another thing I’m sure you can all relate to as I’m sure these circumstances are just as disparate for each of you in your own way.
To bring some structure back into my life and start creating a routine around what I have accepted as the new norm, I have challenged myself to a few things so I can keep myself accountable - getting ready for the day and daily movement of some kind.
Now I work in my kitchen, it just feels more professional than the couch. Plus, who wants to workout AND watch Netflix in their “office” after shutting the laptop for the day?
Not been as active or exercising that frequently has really taken a toll on my body. I feel stiff and unenergetic. When I do train, it seems to take longer to warm up, and when I get going I don’t seem to have that same drive or motivation. On the days that I don’t train, which is about 4 or 5 out of 7 now, I have challenged myself to move for at least 10-15 minutes. This can be a walk or jog, static or dynamic stretching, or a few rounds of one of the many bodyweight workouts we have posted on Instagram and Facebook.
I’ll give you 5 REASONS why this is important:
1. Motion is lotion
The human body does not like to remain in static postures for too long. Anyone that has ever sat in front of a computer for multiple hours can attest to that. So, simply put, if you’re getting uncomfortable sitting in front of a screen, and/or just feeling stiff: move. That’s your body’s way of telling you to do so. Your next posture is your best posture. The less you move, the less fluid and more stiff you’ll feel.
2. Function
Exploring movement keeps us healthy, functioning well, and in tune with our body. It can also give us confidence to take on tasks we never thought possible. Increasing strength, muscle size, cardiovascular capacity, it all builds robustness and improves our body’s overall ability to function more efficiently.
3. Improves mental and physical health
We are not designed to live sedentary lifestyles, especially to the extent we are being forced into it right now. If you’re not exercising regularly at the moment, or at least a couple of days a week, this is a great way to start adding some movement back into your daily routine. Even setting aside 10-15 minutes a day to stretch or go for a walk can help add some structure and keep you accountable.
4. Healthy habits
Most of the leading causes of chronic disease and disability are heavily influenced by a sedentary lifestyle and poor nutritional habits, among other factors. That can be greatly reduced through regular exercise, specifically resistance training, and appropriate nutrition. Right now we are all at a disadvantage, don’t increase your chances of falling into a habit of not exercising, schedule a daily movement session for yourself.
5. If you don’t use it, you lose it
Whether we get back into the gym in a month or six months, we WILL be back in the gym. And you don’t want to lose all your hard earned gains. This refers to strength, muscle, cardio, and/or movement skills you’ve gained over the course of your training. While we may only have access to a limited amount of equipment or none at all, there are still things that can be done to preserve your progress, or at least not make your return to the gym a hard one.
So there you have it folks!
You can check them out on FB and IG @bostonstrengthtraining. For more info you can visit their website.Stay healthy and keep moving!~ Pavlina