Fitness is very important in leading a happy and healthy life, but sometimes it just isn’t easy!  Often our excuses are time and of course money!  Gone are the days that our “physical fitness program” came from working in the fields or doing heavy manual labor.  Now tractors and many different machines assist with the job, which has taken the physical work out of the mix.  These jobs are what I would have called Functional Fitness Jobs.  Where your everyday job activities, helped you stay strong, agile and flexible!  But now with the world of technology and trying to provide an environment that is safer and more efficient, we have taken out a lot of the physical demands on our body.

On a different note, a large percentage of our workforce also have sit down jobs, which does not promote physical labor, and can lead to many other imbalances as well. I believe that the change of the occupational focus, has been a leading cause to the ever-growing obesity epidemic.   

So now what?!?!  How can we promote Functional Fitness once again?  We have to get creative, but with a little bit of imagination I know we can do it!

I always loved something my sister said a few years ago.  She made the comment that she knew herself well enough to know, that she” had to exercise before her schedule starts.” It can be as simple as that.  We all know that often if wait to the end of the day we get bombarded with activities and what is first off the list? The Gym! Schedule the gym or your exercise routine early on and you are more likely to complete it. 

We’ve heard it a million times before, walk!  Use your errand running and catch up days to get a good walk in.  Instead of parking in the closest spot, park further away and walk!  Not only is it a simple way to add a  quick walk, but you will also save your car from a few door dings!

I love encouraging my clients to utilize their time in the car for some simple breathing and abdominal exercises.  It would be interesting sometime to calculate how many lights an average individual gets stopped out each day, let alone how much time that adds up to be! Whether it’s 10 seconds or 2 minutes, what a great way to think about your posture, take a deep breath and pull your belly button back to your spine! For you ladies out there add the Kegel focus and you are not only working your abdominals, but you are also activating one of the most important muscles in your body, your pelvic floor!

Now for all of you desk workers out there.  Check to see if your place of employment would allow you to bring a Stability Ball in for your chair.  This is an excellent way to promote better postures and kick on your core muscles, while you work!  When looking for the right size of ball, you will want the ball large enough so that when you sit, your ankles, knees and hips bend at a 90 degree angle.  More often than not, the 65cm ball is the right size.

Now you may laugh at this one, but heel lifts!  Why not add a calf work out while standing in line at the grocery store, or riding up in an elevator.  Change up your positions by having your feet neutral, small V, big V, even try it with your knees straight versus slightly bent.  You will be amazed on how 20 calf raises a couple of times a day can change the shape of your legs! 

It all boils down to function & creativity!  Use your daily activities to add a little bit of Functional Fitness.  Not only is it a healthy choice, but it helps make the time pass!

Claire Jeppson, PPI & PTA