>Prior to quitting your desk job in the name of good health, try these simple steps to increase your daily physical activity. Physical activity is not the same as exercise; these are regular movement breaks that can be incorporated throughout your day without changing out of your work clothes or needing to hit the showers.
>It's pretty simple to combat the effects of sitting if you take the initiative to simply get up. You've probably already heard about some methods of increasing your daily steps: taking the stairs, parking farther away and walking to talk to a colleague rather than sending an email. Just taking a moment to stand will "turn on" areas of your brain. These are excellent habits, and you can complement them by incorporating the following stretching and strengthening activities at regular intervals throughout your day.
>Incorporating shoulder rolls and retractions can combat some of the ill effects of poor posture. This will increase your shoulder mobility by stretching the chest muscles and strengthening the back muscles. It will also promote easier zipping and unzipping of your wetsuit, donning of your BCD and recovery of your hoses.
- Begin seated or, ideally, standing. Maintain good posture throughout.
- Elevate your shoulders toward your ears as high as possible (shrug your shoulders).
- Rotate posteriorly (around toward the back) with a circular motion.
- With shoulders still back, rotate downward.
- Retract your scapula (squeeze your shoulder blades together), and hold for 10 seconds, actively engaging your rhomboids.
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- Locate a bottom stair or a single stair in a safe area.
- Facing away from the stair, take a giant step forward.
- Place one foot on the stair behind you. Place the sole of your foot on the stair.
- Bend your front knee, slowly lowering your body into the stretch.
- Hold for a five count, then repeat.
>Challenge: Once you are comfortable, progress to placing the top of your foot on the stair; this will be a less stable position but will provide a greater stretch.
- Start sitting on the floor in front of a chair. (Make sure the chair is in a stable position against a wall or desk, especially if it is on wheels.)
- Lean your upper back against the front of the chair.
- Your feet should be closer than shoulder width apart, with the soles of your feet on the floor.
- Lift your butt off the ground so your shoulders, hips and knees are in alignment.
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>© Alert Diver — Winter 2014