Good intentions and reality seldom meet. Research has shown that moderate levels of regular exercise can improve health, improve mood and reduce the chances of getting sick. But the fact is that people are so busy, it’s hard to for them to make time to take a walk, take a yoga class or go to the gym. And for many others, they just don’t want to take a walk or do yoga. So how do you get people to exercise so they can be healthy? Because if we don’t help employees figure out how, healthcare expenses will continue to escalate.
Research says that people will get health benefits from just 15 minutes of moderate exercise 3 times a week So here’s an idea … what if people could get 15 minutes of exercise several days a week …. at work? Without having to change clothes, drive to the yoga studio or head down to the fitness center.
Stretching is Exercise!
Exercise does not have to be time-consuming, hard or make you sweaty. Did you know that exercise can be as easy as stretching and simple movement? Yes, just moving your body is exercise. Now, that doesn’t sound too time-consuming or difficult, does it?
It does not have to involve a huge time commitment, and stretching can end up giving you great results. Here are just a few of the benefits people can expect from a regular stretching program:
- Reduced muscle tension
- Increased range of movement in the joints
- Enhanced muscular coordination
- Increased circulation of the blood to various parts of the body
- Increased energy levels (resulting from increased circulation)
Stretching comes naturally to all of us. You might notice that if you have been sitting in a particular position for a long time, you stretch unconsciously. It feels good. In addition to that good feeling, a consistent stretching program will improve flexibility and joint movement. If you are sitting at your desk right now, just try it. Roll your shoulders up and back. Or stretch your arms out straight and flex wrists – hands up, hands down. Or just slowly tilt your head to the left toward your shoulder and then to the other side.
At the Workplace - Consider an Exercise Coach
People just don’t think about doing exercise at their desk, during the workday. An on-site coach will act as a catalyst for action – show people how to exercise while at the office, remind people to stretch and move around on a regular basis, lead people through programs that are effective but won’t take a lot of time or disrupt productivity. In fact, short bursts of activity/exercise will likely improve productivity. One Proactive Partners on-site coach can reach anywhere from 250-750 employees per month. It is amazingly cost-effective as well as time-efficient for the employees and the company. And no special equipment or significant space is required. To find out more, go to www.beproactive.com or email the team at Proactive Partners
At the Computer – Short, Guided Stretch videos make it Easy
Consider Take5Moment programs – a collection of short videos delivering guided movements, stretches and stress-relief advice for desk-workers. Employees could get almost 50 minutes of exercise a work week if they did a Take5Yoga stretch in the morning and in the afternoon at their desk. Go to www.take5moment.com to see what they could make available to employees.
Comments