Squats will change your life. Really.
In modern life we sit too much and it’s killing us, literally killing us.
Sitting is now called ‘the new smoking’ – if you let that sink in for a moment, that’s a profound statement, assessment of modern life. We sit and drive to work, we sit at work, we then sit to drive home from work, then sit and have dinner, then sit and watch Netflix (okay, maybe you stop and workout on the way home – good on you; but it’s not enough to ‘undo’ the effects of sitting all day, nearly every day).
The answer? Do squats – all day, every day.
- When you get up in the morning
- After you’ve been at your desk for an hour or more
- Before you go to lunch
- When you get back from lunch
- In the middle afternoon
- Before you drive home
- When you get home
- Before you go to bed
Here’s some coaching videos on how to do squats and variations:
- Air Squat
- Goblet Squat
- Front Squat
- Overhead squat with PVC
- One-arm Overhead Squat with Dumbell
- Overhead Squat with Weight
Last thought: try to set up a standing workstation at work (be sure that your monitor(s) are positioned high so that your not looking down – i.e. if you create a standing workstation, but you’re using your laptop, that’s better than sitting, but the looking down is not good posture, not good for your spine in general or your neck in particular.
What squat can a woman 66 yrs old due? She has 2 hip replacements.
Hi Janice – thanks for your question. With a person as you describe, start with sitting back into a chair and then rising back up. If she’s needs help, position another chair (with a high back) close by; or use a cane or walking stick.
Eventually the goal would be to remove whatever she would be using to ‘assist’. Then perhaps a lower chair. Then eventually no chair – acting like she’s sitting down, then rising back up. Again, during this phase/progression, it’s okay to use something to help. The idea is that with safe practice and repetition, she can regain both strength and range-of-motion. At 66, she still has another 20-30 years! 🙂
Feel free to email me directly if you have further questions: drpaul@bonfirehealth.com.
GOOD LUCK!
Dr. Paul