
Have you ever seen a fat Masai? Well… we haven’t. And if you have, do send across a picture! Research shows that the reason why the Masais are at the optimum fitness level is because they move 75 per cent more than we do. And it is not as if they are constantly running across the grasslands. The Masais walk everywhere—and that is a major contributing factor to optimum health. We tell you three main reasons as to why we are so prone to taking a seat.

Too much TV
Being a couch potato will not help you in the long run. Especially if you start at a very young age, which most children nowadays do. Added to that, the junk food diet will lead to disastrous effects later on in life. Parent take note!

Desk jobs
With the increase of computer-related activity (guilty as charged!), we find ourselves more and more constrained and restricted to a desk and a chair. With very limited movement, bad posture (let’s face it…. who does not slouch whilst typing?) and awkward hand positions, this is far removed from what our body was intended to do.

Travel
Be it a car, a bus, a train, or a plane…. what we are doing, is parking our butts along with our vehicle. And what happens to a vehicle which is parked over time? You got it—a breakdown! This is exactly the prediction for our bodies with limited mobility.
So what can we do? Simple. Get moving!
- Watch less TV. One hour a day should suffice, but if you need more of a fix, move around during the ad breaks and in between programs.
- Sitting at your computer is now an inevitable fact of life. But be sure to take 5 minute breaks every half an hour. This helps your mind refocus as well as your body, so twice the benefits. Stretch and then walk around the room for a few minutes. Don’t do it as a stroll. Do it with quick, brisk movements as if going for a walk.
- Reduce travel by four and two wheelers. If it is a 15 to 20 minute walk to your destination, avoid the car. Overtime, these 10, 15 and 20 minute walks add up to give you a substantial movement total. Take the stairs, instead of the escalator or elevator. You will be surprised as to how quickly you get used to it.
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XOXO
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Written by Fleur Xavier and Nethra Raghuraman on 27th Jun 2014