You’ve probably heard that “sitting is the new smoking.” Not only does it lead to aches and pains, edema, varicose veins, sciatica and moreaccording to a new study, too much sitting can actually kill you.
Unlike smoking, however, we can’t just quit sitting.
It’s a lifestyle reality that even the most athletic among us can’t avoid.
My professional athlete clientele are plagued by prolonged sitting as they travel from game to game. They also end up sitting a lot during downtime at hotels and in the off-season.
Sitting will kill you
So, how can we limit our death-by-sitting risk? Sit smarter with yoga.
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2. Kneeling lunge with reach-back twist stretches hip flexors while releasing chest, neck and upper-back tension. From a kneeling lunge with your left foot forward, place your right hand on your left thigh. Reach your left arm behind you with your forearm and palm turned up. Look back over your shoulder as you draw your right shoulder blade down, relaxing the muscles of your neck and chest. Hold for three to five long, deep breaths. Repeat on the other side. Note: The reach-back twist can be done sans lunge — simply from standing or sitting.
Remind yourself to be mindful
Mindfulness is paramount to sitting healthier, but it’s understandable that we disengage during sedentary activities, such as watching TV, reading or working at a desk. It’s helpful to set a timer to remind you to keep your sitting in check.
Technology — such as computers, tablets and smartphones — might be a big reason we’re in our seats so much, but it can also help.
There are some innovative posture-correcting apps, such as Posture Trainer, and wearable technology, such as Lumo Lift. I’m on the advisory board of Darma, a company creating the world’s first “smart” seat cushion to monitor your real-time posture, respiration and stress level and cue you via an app to apply all the principles I outlined above.
