For instance, if I had my way every office and place of
business would have a culture where recuperative movement is considered an integral
part of productivity. If I had my
way every person who works at a desk would allow herself to get up and move for
ten minutes every hour. She would
spend part of her day standing at her desk on one foot and then the other. I’m
doing this right now at the coffee shop where I’m writing. The picture is incomplete because I am
too shy to ask someone to take it, but if I had my way what I’m doing right now wouldn’t be
considered weird.
If I had my way each person would try to type at least three
emails standing with his feet in line heel to toe and his eyes closed. Okay, right now I am typing this
sentence in exactly this fashion, and I am both improving my typing skills and
practicing my balance. If I had my way our bodies would be the highest
priority. Our health would be more
important than our deadlines. If I had my way every office cubicle and workplace in
the world would also be equipped with the following: A foam roller, two soft
balls, a gigantic ball, and a small spiky ball. AND I am confident that if I had my way our
economy would be better, our work more important and the communities in which we
live would be safer, healthier, and happier. But alas I don’t always get my way…
I am constantly hearing stories about the stress that we are
under. I am constantly meeting
amazing people that are doing fabulous things for other people but not taking
time to care for their own beings.
What if everyone that
is reading this post committed to doing three of the following activities
everyday for the next week? Wouldn’t
it be a small step in the right direction? What if everyone that read this post added two more of
the following activities the following week? What if at the end of six weeks we had offices filled with
people balancing on one foot with their eyes closed. Would we start a wellness revolution? I think it’s entirely possible.
Here are ten ideas to add movement to the office, but really the possibilities are
endless!
1. Try returning emails while lying on a foam roller.
2. Plan your next presentation while balancing on a big ball.
3. Have a meeting in which everyone is standing on one foot.
4. Attend your next conference call while lying with the
soft ball under your hips.
5. At your next brainstorming session pass around a ball
while standing on the foam roller.
Whoever has the ball has to spout an idea.
5. Return phone calls with your eyes closed while attempting
the following balance challenge.
6. Perform the following lunge while writing your
next report. Be sure to switch sides.
7. Use a dictation app while doing a plank series. Here’s a video if you’re
interested.
8. Every time you need to think of the right word hang
upside down over a big ball.
9. Pack a lunch so that you can also take a walk at
lunchtime
10. Roll the bottom of your feet on a spiky ball while
filing.
What else can you think of? Feel Free to send me pictures of things that you are doing
to move at your office. Together we will start a revolution!
Katrina Hawley CMA, PMA® - CPT
Director of Instruction at The Pilates Studio