Hi everyone,
As a Pilates teacher, I see many people who have lower back pain and problems. I would estimate that 90% of these problems come from poor posture and from sitting way too much. Our bodies are not designed for sitting but too many of us sit for hours and hours each day. I dare you to calculate how many hours a day you sit – from eating breakfast, commuting, working at your desk, eating dinner and watching television. It’s not uncommon to hear that people are sitting for 8 – 12 hours a day! No wonder their backs hurt.
Here’s an easy exercise that you can do just about anywhere and anytime. It’s not a classical Pilates exercise although you could say that it’s a version of Joseph’s swimming or flight exercise. It’s known as a McKenzie exercise, named after Robin McKenzie who is one of the world’s leading authorities on lower back pain.
To do the exercise, follow these cues:
- Stand with your feet a bit wider apart than your hips
- Keep your knees straight
- Place your hands in the small of your lower back, fingers turned inward
- Imagine doing a back dive over your hands, lifting your heart out of your chest
- Hold for a couple of breaths
- Repeat three times
Try to do this exercise every hour or so when you need to sit. If you’re at the office, you can do it in the washroom where it is private. It will help to strengthen your lower back safely.
Questions? Don’t hesitate to email me. I’m here to help.
And please check out the downloadable MP3 workouts on my website. They’re easy to follow and very effective. Plus, if you input promo code 4001 when you place your order, you’ll get 10% off your entire order!
Sherry
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