Western society has adopted ever increasing sedentary lifestyles over the last fifty years. Many attempt to offset their desk bound careers with regular workouts. Unfortunately, even regular visits to the health club, as helpful as they are, cannot completely make up for the negative impact of too much sitting.
“Sitting Kills, Moving Heals: How Everyday Movement Will Prevent Pain, Illness & Early Death – And Exercise Alone Won’t” by Dr. Joan Vernikos explains the importance of standing up and & moving every 10 to 15 minutes. Dr. Vernikos was the Director of the life science division of NASA in the 90’s and dealt with the rapid heath deterioration that occurred in zero gravity, including accelerated aging/muscle mass deterioration and loss of bone density. Fortunately, most of the effects reversed when the astronauts returned to Earth’s gravity (www.JoanVernikos.com or You-Tube). Even as little as four days of bed rest can result in measurable GDS (gravity deprivation syndrome). Evidently we need gravity to keep us healthy.
So what is a ‘sitanaut’? Well, turns out sitting is a form of weightlessness that brings us perilously close to a gravity free environment. “The less we move, the less we use gravity…the answer is to rediscover a lifestyle of constant, natural, low intensity exercise that uses the gravity vector throughout the day.”
Humans evolved as moving creatures; a healthy lifestyle requires movement through out the day, not just at the gym.
Closing Quotes:
“Lack of activity destroys the good condition of every human being, while movement and methodical physical exercise save it and preserve it.” – (Plato; 427 B.C. – 347 B.C.)
“Take care of your body. It’s the only place you have to live.” – (Jim Rohn; 1930 – 2009)
“You have to stay in shape. My grandmother, she started walking five miles a day when she was 60. She’s 97 today and we don’t know where the hell she is.” – (Ellen Degeneres; b. 1958)
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