Try These 11 Home Hacks to Start Moving More Today
Intimidated by the thought of exercise? Not sure how you’ll find the time, or even how to get started?
In my work as a physical therapist, I help clients explore their movement on a daily basis. Most people end up in our clinic because they’ve always struggled to form an “exercise” habit.
But what if we framed the conversation around movement instead of exercise? How much does that change the conversation?
A shift in perspective might be all you need to meet your health goals. If you get enough movement in your day, there would be less of a need for a formal exercise program.
There are an infinite number of ways you can alter your home environment to facilitate more movement. And better yet, this can happen with little to no investment in time or equipment. All it takes is a little thinking outside the box. Below is a list of suggestions to get you started.
1. Ditch your laundry basket.
I have yet to see anyone carry their laundry basket using...
Need to Get Moving But Feel Overwhelmed? Start Here.
Do you realize your balance is declining, but feel lost on where to start improving it? Notice that your mobility isn’t what it used to be, but not sure how to take the first step to make it better?
We all get a little lost sometimes, especially when it comes to our health as we age. As a physical therapist, my job is to break things down into the smallest possible pieces to help get someone moving and build confidence. Taking small steps gets the ball rolling and banishes overwhelm.
Just remember, all it takes is just one step every day in the right direction. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, start with the list below to guide you in the right direction.
1. Start small and safe.
The best place to start to build balance and movement confidence is to break things down into smaller parts, perform a lot of repetitions, and set yourself up in a safe environment.
A great place to start is to write a list of all the movements you don’t feel confident doing. For...
Tips to Get More Walking in Your Day
Walking 3 to 5 miles per day is a human physiological requirement. Our bodies have a need for natural movement, and walking is one of the best ways to fulfill this need. Your body only functions at optimal capacity if you’re walking each day. Your blood flow, nerve function, and the ability for your cells to get nutrients are all impacted by your movement, particularly walking.
We’re often asked, “Can’t I just run or ride a bike to get meet my daily movement requirement faster?”
And our answer is a resounding NO. There is no problem with running or biking, but it can’t replace walking. They have different physiological effects on your body. So feel free to run or hop on a bike only AFTER you’ve met your walking requirement for the day.
Another question we often address is, “What do I do if I don’t have the time or space to walk these long distances each day?”
And for that question, we have great news! The...
The Difference Between Aging and Being "Under-Moved"
One of our favorite quotes from one of our favorite books on aging! It is possible to be young and weak because you aren't moving enough, just as it is possible to be old and strong because you move often.
Being "under-moved" as a society is a great health crisis than aging. Make the choice to start aging well today by getting yourself moving in any way you can. Let us know how you are moving today in the comments, we would love to hear about it!
Get your free copy of our Ebook: 5 Simple Steps to Take Control of Your Chronic Pain to finally have an understanding of where your pain is coming from and start taking action TODAY!
Video: The How and Why of the Calf Stretch
One of the first exercises we teach our new clients is the calf stretch. And for good reason!
We've written blog posts in the past about the importance of taking care of the health of your feet (which you can find here, here, and here). But long story short, your feet are your foundation. Improving your foot mobility is a great first step (pun intended) toward better health.
Watch the video above to learn how to do the calf stretch.
To set up: In this exercise, we use a half foam roll. But if you don't have a half foam roll a rolled up towel will work great!
Take your shoes off, this exercise is best performed barefoot. Stand in front of your half foam roll (or towel) with your feet spaced pelvis width apart. Make sure your feet are aligned straight, like the cars on a tire. Look down and if they are angled outward take a minute to straighten them. Focus on maintaining this alignment throughout the exercise.
If you aren't sure about your balance, position...
Your Body Starts to Age When You Believe You Are Aging
What if we told you your body doesn't start to fall apart just because you age... but instead because that you believe that you are aging?
The minute you start to tell yourself you are getting too old to do some of the active things you used to love, you start to age. We become unable to use our bodies just because we stop using them, not simply because we are getting older.
Make the choice to be young today and keep doing all the things you love to do!
Get your free copy of our Ebook: 5 Simple Steps to Take Control of Your Chronic Pain to finally have an understanding of where your pain is coming from and start taking action TODAY!
Do You Have the Mindset to Age Well?
Here at ABC, we do more than just teach you corrective exercise and natural movement. We make sure we set you up with the mindset you need to be successful because that can make or break how you age.
Keeping a positive mindset around aging can be a struggle, but can be just as powerful as the actions you take. Did you know that the stress created by the fear of developing medical conditions are stronger risk factors for these chronic conditions than any other physical risk factor? And that having a fear of falling actually makes you more likely to fall than having had a fall in the past?
This just goes to show the stories that we tell ourselves matter. So we can choose to focus on the positive or on the negative, but either choice we make will impact our lives for better or worse. So make the choice today to focus on the positive and see firsthand what a difference it makes!
Get your free copy of our Ebook: 5 Simple Steps to Take Control of Your Chronic Pain to...
You Should Never Have to Depend on Depends
Have questions about your pelvic health but were afraid to ask? A shocking number of our clients never even knew there were solutions other than surgery or Depends for leaking.
The reality is this absolutely does not have to be a normal part of your life. It's often day to day habits (or lack of day to day habits) that lead to leaking in the first place! Gaining control can be easier than you think.
If you are tired of relying on passive solutions and are ready to take an active approach to optimize your pelvic health reach out to us. At ABC, we specialize in improving your pelvic health through a whole body approach. Can you really afford to wait any longer?
Get your free copy of our Ebook: 5 Simple Steps to Take Control of Your Chronic Pain to finally have an understanding of where your pain is coming from and start taking action TODAY!
Stop Trying to Defy Aging. Embrace It Instead.
“Ageism is prejudice against our own future selves.” -Ashton Applewhite
We see the phrase “anti-aging” everywhere. It’s obviously at the forefront of everyone’s minds.
But newsflash: we’re all aging.
There isn’t anything you can do to stop it.
And yet all we hear about are the negative aspects of aging. And this constant push to try to put a stop to a process that’s an inevitable aspect of life.
It’s become painfully apparent we live in an ageist society.
If you look around, you’ll notice a pattern. Of all the advertising to buy products or services to “hide” the fact that we’re aging.
And the real danger here is our thought patterns dictate our actions. Both our individual actions and the actions of society. When you take a look around, it becomes obvious we’ve structured world to discriminate against older adults. This TED Talk on ageism by Ashton Applewhite sums this up perfectly.
...
MYTH: You Should Avoid Squatting If Your Knees Hurt
MYTH: You should avoiding squatting if your knees hurt.
We've heard this myth just a few times too many... The truth is that you should do the exact opposite, squats lead to happy, healthy knee joints!
Where most people go wrong is not modifying their squat. There is more than one way to squat and when you first start some ways make your knees happier than others. If you have knee pain, start by sitting on a taller chair. Go from sitting to standing, then standing slowly back to sitting. And there, you have just done a squat!
As you get stronger, start to lower your seat height or hold onto a small weight when doing this exercise. We hope you learned something new about your knees today!
