Incidental Exercise - What is it? Does it help?

What is incidental exercise?
It is exercise that you do throughout your day without actually knowing it, like taking the steps instead of the lift, parking the car across the car park and walking those few extra paces, walking the dog to the park- not driving him there, etc.

Incidental exercise can, and does, definitely help! Any movement you do can help! It may seem silly taking one extra flight of stairs, how can that help right? But If you walk that set of stairs everyday of that week it makes a huge difference.

Sitting has become the new 'smoking'.  In other words, people are now starting to become more aware of the negative effects on your body of sitting for two hours (or more). There is a big move to standing desks, having 'walking meetings' and getting up of their butt more!
Sitting is not good for you, our body is not designed to sit for long periods of time, and some of us sit at desks all day.

In today's busy age we often don't have time to slot in an actual exercise activity in everyday, (and that's another blog!) so this is the perfect opportunity for incidental exercise.
Simply add in more 'movement' into your day and call that your exercise, then it's back to your actual planned exercise activity the next day.

So tomorrow, wear your flat shoes, park a little bit further away, or better- ditch the car and walk, go for a light stroll for 10 minutes on your cuppa break then do the same at afternoon tea break, if it's raining do laps of your house putting only one piece of washing away on each lap.
There are many ways to add in incidental activity without needing to get your gym gear, be creative, have fun!  It's fantastic for your circulation, heart health, bone health, vitamin D, fitness, mental health and more!

Stop sitting and get moving - just do it!

By Sharon Bouwer
Registered Personal Trainer & Bootcamp Instructor
Owner Operator of Let'sGetActive.co.nz
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