SITTIN' DOWN: The death of your posture and flexibility

So right now you're probably sitting while you read this. Are you paying attention to the way you're sat? The vast majority of us in full time work or study spend a huge proportion of our waking life sitting down, at desks, tables, in lecture theaters or behind the wheel.

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We spend thousands of hours sitting, and in our later lives we end up questioning why with have a range of physical and mobility issues and horrific posture.

So what can we do to prevent this?

Essentially its a case of damage control, to work around dealing with the abuse we put out bodies through but sitting for hours and hours on end. Although there are some preventative measures open to us.
The most immediate course of action you can take is focusing on your flexibility. The muscles that will suffer the most are the Hip Flexors and Glutes. Your glutes are the general cause of any lower back pain issues you may be experiencing which are likely to be derived from sitting for prolonged periods of time. And can be easily dealt with. "BUT ROBIN I DON'T HAVE TIME TO STRETCH" ok well, with that kind of attitude have fun with your chronic back pain, and all the stomach ulcers you're gunna get from "medicating it" with whatever painkillers your doctor will dish out to you. If you care enough, you'll make time, it's as simple as that. Treat the cause, not the symptom.

Keep it simple:

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This is by far one of the simplest hip flexor stretches. On one knee gradually lean your hips forward until you feel a stretch on the front of your hip on the side with the leg that is kneeling. Do this on both sides for an equal amount of time, 30 seconds to a minute or so.

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This simple stretch for your glutes will help them deal with you sitting on them all day, as well as keep any lower back pain at bay. Sit on the floor sat up, bend one leg and place it over the other, holding the bent leg with your opposite arm. Slowly twist at your waist towards the bent leg until you feel a stretch.

You know when you get home from work and all you want to do is fall onto the couch like a sack of potatoes with a mug of tea in your hand?! Well don't. Do this FIRST, just take 5 minutes, thats all it takes to make a difference.

I find it rather funny how people often go from being full time desk drones for a few years then suddenly try to take up some form of active hobby, usually something common like running. It pains me to see how usually after just a few weeks they usually find themselves injured. Purely because they're physiology is completely out-of-wack because they've spent a huge chunk of their life imobile.

Great, so I should just stay at home and do nothing right?

WRONG. That doesn't mean people shouldn't get out, break the bad habits, dust off the gym kit and go get it done. Just start small, and take care to consider your body hasn't done and kind of real movement in a long time. Your body is a walking living breathing masterpiece of a creation, look after it.