Revitalize your mind and body with these quick tricks to help you get more active by Dani Byrne, Ascent Wellness Fitness Coordinator

Increasing your activity level doesn’t have to mean hitting the gym for two hours everyday. It doesn’t have to mean working yourself into a puddle of sweat or bending yourself into a pretzel every morning. Being more active is simple, and with these 5 easy steps you’ll find that activity can even be relaxing.

1. Take 5-10 minutes in the morning to breathe deeply.

Hit that snooze button and work on breathing deeply. Practicing deep breathing every morning will release muscle tensions, increase lung capacity, aid in circulation and digestion. As well as increase your auto-immune system and balance the mind and body. When exhaling fully you detoxify by releasing more carbon dioxide and stagnant air. So go ahead, hit snooze, but you’ll be amazed at how much better you feel after breathing for 5 minutes instead of snoozing for 5 minutes.

2. Eat Breakfast.

“I know how vital a balanced breakfast is, but some days there just isn’t enough time.” We’ve all said this at one time or another, but the problem is that our body needs energy and skipping breakfast may save a few minutes, but we pay for it later. Eating breakfast kick starts the metabolism and gives our bodies the energy we need to make it through a full day. Making a healthy breakfast choice also helps to shape the decisions we make the rest of the day.

3. Walk more.

Walking is the best form of exercise for people trying to get active and lose weight. So, park further from the grocery store, work, the library etc. Take the stairs instead of the escalator or elevator. Use your breaks at work to spend some time walking outside rather than sitting in the lounge munching on those doughnuts. Keep your snacks and lunch in the lounge instead of at your desk, you’ll have to take more steps to get there and you won’t eat mindlessly.

4. Stretch at work.

Spend a few minutes every hour to stretch out the neck, shoulders, wrists and legs. Stretching releases tension, increases blood flow, and re-energizes the body. Maintain proper posture, practice deep breathing and hold the stretches for at least 15-20 seconds. Stretching also gives your eyes and brain a few minutes to rest and recover.

5. “Play 60” with the family.

Parents can feel guilty about exercising because it takes away from family time, but it doesn’t have to. Get your whole family to spend time together by playing catch, walking the dog, riding bikes, or even playing on the Wii. Keep your whole family active and enjoy some quality time together. Summer is the perfect time to get outdoors and get moving.

Commit to these 5 easy steps for a month and see how you feel in 30 days, I guarantee you’ll notice a difference in your mood, energy, sleep patterns and even in your clothes. Skip the excuses and commit to a healthier lifestyle, you’ll be glad you did.

Dani is the wellness coordinator at Ascent Therapy Clinics in the DTC. She is a certified strength coach, pilates and yoga instructor and has been teaching group fitness classes for 3 years.