"Your body can't tell the difference between bending over to pick up your shopping bag or and bending down to pick up a weight”!
Okay people, here I am at the start of a brand new month and... with the first of a a set of fun posts to keep us all strong and supple as we head towards that time of the year where things may be moving a little faster ! I said they would be light-hearted, but hopefully useful too!
Lots and lots of ads, here there and everywhere right now, encouraging us to get out there and to spend our money”
So... I got to thinking... uh oh! There is no reason at all why our, ( maybe increasing), visits to the shops cannot be classed as a workout!
Whatever you are buying , part of the act of buying, shopping means you are walking. walking burns calories, and that can be a significant number of calories too!
I am being perfectly serious , our shopping errands often involve plenty of walking, carrying, lifting, bending, stretching etc.
So... if we are heading to the shops and we want to get a significant workout... how can we achieve it, ( and get the shopping done)? Well, making a plan may be a good idea... know what you need and where to get it; maximise the walking but minimise the time wasting?
* First off, don't drive, if you feel the shopping visit does not need a car to get the load home! Maybe walk to the shops? It is all too easy for many of us to get into the car for a distance that really does not necessitate it.
* When you get there... use stairs, not lifts or escalators.... think of all those steps you are getting in! Yeayyy!
*When you are where you want to be, if you have got the car ?
Take the long way around... park further away...if at a shopping centre, then go in at an entrance where you have to walk to your first shop.
* Brisk pace and eye exercise as you window-shop en route.
* Unless you have a HUGE grocery shop...then use a basket not a trolley. Carrying the weight around.. changing arms as you go, or a bag in both hands,,, all giving those arms a workout. You are reaching up for things, bending down to get things from lower shelves, reaching and stretching.
Choosing new gear...including exercise stuff?
* Trying on time, can be a sneaky workout time, some bends, some stretches, arms up and down, twisting turning and general preening, as you find the perfect outfit! Also a good time to relax the shoulders, a few shoulder rolls... easy, lower back exercise, to keep you going, too!
* You can use your Yoga too... waiting at tills, perusing the choice of goods.. be body aware, breathing and positioning. Stand relaxed but correctly... if the queue is long then neck exercises , breathing patterns and leg stretches... We may get funny looks but who minds that?
Okay... all done?
Take your wares to the car yourself... no offer of help to be accepted... ( unless the load really is too much ). Your workout... your way !
Some ideas there then? I do feel that we all do a lot more exercise than we think, in our daily activities and focusing on them a tad more, in these very busy few weeks, well, that has to be good...Every Little Helps , as a well known supermarket used to say!
Let us know your thoughts and any tips or ideas too... I intend to incorporate a little more thought into my chore expeditions.. will you?
Oldfloss xxx
P.S
Maybe a few lower back exercises, after all your efforts would be useful ? Adriene, in her YWA sessions does lovely relaxed lower back ones!
One called... Lower Back Love... it is so good !
