High-intensity workouts went mainstream a few years ago. Even the New York Times began touting a 7-minute workout. What’s not to love? You can get all the benefits of a 30-minute jog in a fraction of the time.
High-intensity workouts are great for busy people, who are already in good shape—but that intensity is not for everyone. If you’re a bit out of shape or recovering from an injury, you’ll need another way to work your way toward your fitness goals.
Core strength
Sitting for long periods has been found to predict worse health outcomes including heart disease, Type 2 diabetes and cancer. We all need to move more. And for those of us who are older, recovering from an injury, or who find ourselves to be a little out of shape, it can be hard to get started.
So here are some exercises that even a baby can do. But these exercises are much more than just goofing around — it turns out that child’s play can be a great way to maintain your health and core strength.
“ Core strength is less about power and more about the subtleties of being able to maintain the body in ideal postures — to unload the joints and promote ease of movement. ”
These exercises are fun to watch, but the real magic happens when you give them a try yourself.
Baby steps
The exercises in the video might seem a little goofy, almost too easy to be of any benefit. We were delighted to find that in addition to being really fun, it was easy to control the intensity of our workouts. And it was also easy to do a few of these at the top of every hour as a break from our desk jobs.
These exercises slowly strengthen key core muscles that can protect us from things like lower back pain. The accompanying article gives you step-by-step guidance on four simple exercises that can help get you going: rolling, crawling, rocking, and marching.
Say hello to your vestibular system
The movements also reset your vestibular system. The vestibular system is a series of tubes in your ear that keep you oriented in space relative to the ground. It senses the orientation of your body relative to gravity and helps you maintain balance.
Strength isn’t everything. Your sense of self-movement and body position, also known as proprioception or kinesthesia, plays a crucial role in how we move our bodies safely through space. Your vestibular system is an important part of this equation, and is essential for clear vision and upright posture, among other things.
Come visit us at Parkside
These gentle exercises can help keep you healthy between your chiropractic and massage sessions. Come see our expert team at Parkside Clinic where we tailor our care to your specific condition and tap into your body’s natural healing ability. Make an appointment, or if you have any questions, contact us.