One of the hardest things about exercising is finding the time to do it. For instance, I am glued to my desk chair almost all day, and when I'm not sitting here, I'm running around doing errands or taking care of assorted things in the house. There is no time. So I got to thinking, well, why can't I exercise while I'm sitting on my butt and writing? I could think of no viable answer explaining why I wasn't doing this, and so when on a searching, leading me to find 7 exercises you can do sitting down.
This counts on a technicality because, I mean, you do sit on a bike, you know? Most of the following exercises are relegated to being able to sit at your desk or in your office and exercise, so I wanted to throw in an actual activity or two. This is the first one, because I love riding a bike, especially when the weather gets warmer.
The Forward Bend is actually a yoga move. You'll be seeing a couple of those here, but I'll start with this one. You can do it right in a chair, since it primarily involves keeping your feet on the floor and then folding forward. It's easy to take a few minutes to do this, which can help relax you. And yoga counts as exercise now, right?
I don't know about you, but my neck and back get really tight after I've been sitting here and working for a while. Neck rolls, which are just as simple as they sound, can really help ease that tension, and they are also a wonderful, low impact exercise. You can actually improve the muscles in your neck, and can help with sagging jaws and chins as well.
You don't have to get out of your chair or off the couch to work on your biceps. You will need small free weights, but who doesn't have a couple of those lying around the office? Anyhow, hold the weights palm up, keep your abs tight and your elbows close to your sides. The movements need to bring your hands up to your shoulders.
This is just like what it sounds like – and this exercise is really helpful. All you do is lift and lower your toes while your heels are braced against the floor. You can work your calf muscles by doing this, which can lead to a really toned look. This particular exercise will also keep your legs from getting stiff while you are sitting in your office all day.
The Body Twist is yet another yoga maneuver, and it too can take place while you are sitting down. You need to spread your feet so they are even with your hips, and keep them on the floor. From there, lift your arms up and make sure your torso is lifted away from the hips. Then, twist your torso from one side to the other. Hold it for a ten count each time.
Actually, I'm talking about gluteal squeezes here. By that, yes, I do mean just squeezing those back cheeks together. This can easily be done while you are sitting. Each time you tense up the muscles in your back side, you need to hold it for a ten count. Sooner than you think, you'll have a taut, toned booty – without getting out of your chair!
Of course, whenever possible, you need to be up and active. That's just the thing, though, sometimes it's not possible. What kinds of exercises do you do when you don't have time for a proper workout?
Top Photo Credit: camera shy momma