Mind-Body Connection

A busy schedule, a working lunch and hours spent sitting in front of the computer can all wreck havoc with your health. Worried that you don’t have the Wanitha Ashok – Bangaloretime to join a gym and follow a fitness regimen? Fitness expert Wanitha Ashok says you can sneak in exercise into your daily routine with a little bit of determination. A certified aerobic instructor from Reebok and Aerobic Fitness Association of America (AFFA), Wanitha is an expert in Step aerobics, Pilates, Stability ball, Spinning and Kick Boxing and also does talk shows on nutrition and fitness in Kannada TV channels. She tells us why it is important to make time for a fitness routine in your daily life.

Brisk walking for 40 minutes is one of the best and simplest of exercises. You don’t have to join a gym for it. Just make some time in the morning or evening.

If your work involves being deskbound the whole day, get up and walk around in between to stretch your muscles. Walk up to your colleagues and talk to them instead of discussing problems and matters over the phone or email.

If your office or residence is on a higher floor and you must use the lift, get off two or three floors (depending on your capacity) ahead of your destination and walk up. Increase the distance as you progress. You can slowly start doing variations like taking the stairs two at a time, speeding up, doing lunges etc.

After lunch hour at work, take a walk around the building or terrace.
Sitting in the right posture is very important for those on a desk job. Try to learn some simple stretching exercises that you can perform at your desk.

Food in the office canteen can often be oily and heavy, leading to problems like weight gain. Watch what you are eating. Cut down on refined foods and sweets, as these tend to be calorie-filled and make you hungry sooner. Make the right food choices. Instead of a gravy dish and rice, have dal, roti and a light vegetable dish, if available. If you are having sandwiches, try to opt for whole wheat bread if available.

Make time for breakfast in the morning, no matter how rushed you are. Try to have four or five small meals during the day. Never skip meals. You will just lose muscles.

If you can’t spare 40 minutes at a stretch for a workout on a weekday, you can even do small exercises throughout the day for a few minutes each. For example, skip rope in the morning for five minutes. Jog when you can spare the time later in the day for a few minutes. Together, it will make a difference.

Exercising for three to five days a week is ideal with 40 minutes of cardio and three days of strength training. If you are too busy for that, make time for a proper workout session over the weekend. Ensure that you have at least an hour-long exclusive workout. If you are joining a gym, ensure that it has a reputation of excellence and proper certification. If you have a gym in the building with an independent trainer, make sure that she or he is properly certified. You can always ask to see their certification.

Bored of your aerobic routine? Try variations like Kickboxing or Tai Chi as that’s always good. Pick a high intensity workout if you want to burn more calories.

Don’t workout only to lose weight. Work out to stay fit.

There are several passive workout machines in the market. These are mostly a waste of money as they don’t give you a cardio workout.

Several homemakers believe that they get enough exercise simply by chasing the kid around or doing housework. This is completely wrong. The components of a proper workout routine are Cardio, Strength Training, Flexibility, Body composition and Neuro-muscular integration, which decreases with age. Your workout routine needs to address all of these.

Whether you are taking the stairs instead of the lift, jogging around your building or skipping at home, always wear the right footwear.

Do you have any questions for Wanitha about fitness? Post a comment and we will get it answered.