It’s not your fault that you don’t move enough
Ooo, did you just raise an eyebrow? I hope you did. This statement might just cause a little stir, because the popular belief is that we can make choices about our behaviour, good or not so good, every second of every day; or can we?
If we are not moving, exercising or changing our lifestyle as we ‘should’, does that mean we are lazy, unmotivated or uncaring? The short answer is, nope, or at least, not necessarily.
The longer answer is that we are actually genetically programmed to behave as if we still live in a time of feast or famine. Therefore our ancient, instinctive brain is constantly still seeking food, rest, ease and convenience just in case there is a famine coming around the corner.
The choice to take the stairs or the lift, the lift wins. The choice to change the channel with the remote or get up to press a button, the remote wins. The choice to eat the ice cream or an apple, the ice cream wins etc etc.
So with this new understanding, we can be proactive, we must create an environment that encourages, even forces us to move more and create different shapes with our body. Make it so that choosing to move is the only option!
I’m going to give you the easiest place to start. I’m not going to take the car away, or even the remote away, but I would like you to take your favourite armchair away, or at least pop your cactus on it.
No more sofa surfing this evening, I’d like to encourage you to find your flow on the floor instead.
The floor is possibly the best piece of exercise equipment you’re not using.
Floor sitting is not only a great way to strengthen and mobilise the body, but just getting up and down from the floor is a key skill and core challenge.
Just by the very nature of sitting on the floor you will get uncomfortable and your body will tell you it’s time to move, unlike disappearing into a chair or sofa for hours.
Use the floor sitting ideas in my online video to create a variety of positions for your body to rest in during your relaxation time in the evenings.
Here you can watch TV, read, scroll, play, relax and feel good you are creating new movement and strengthening opportunities for your body at the same time.
Your environment is the single most biggest influencing factor on how you move, not your level of motivation, determination, number of fitness classes, Apps or trackers.
So create yourself a comfy floor seating area with cushions, blankets, bolsters and mats, both to create an inviting spot to sit, as well as the constant reminder to sit there!
“Shape your environment, or your environment will shape you”
Watch the video on the website for some great floor sitting ideas, you can do it!
Emma Wightman
www.the-sop.com/video-guides