Counteracting sitting position

Accès Pilates owner performing "Swimming" on the Cadillac

We all know that having children means that we do a lot of driving. Tennis lessons, music class, dance rehearsals, you name it, I have been shuttling my kids around for years. Well, just what happens when we sit? Well, our buttocks are in a stretched position, our knees are bent (flexed) as are the hips. Our low backs often are taken out of the normal concave curve and flattened, and typically we will have a head forward position. When this is occasional, it is no big deal. But if you spend a fair amount of time sitting, and being a chauffeur, you will weaken your back's strength and all its supporting structures.

The above exercise is a very effective toning exercise that counteracts the ill effects of sitting. This is a version of the mat exercise called "Swimming" As with all Pilates exercises, form is critical. Please make sure you get your regular amount of physical activity in, and start looking at your daily routines, what is helping you and what could be harming you. If you are not already doing it, make sure that you have a mindful movement practice in place and get outside and walk, at least a half hour.