It is extremely hard to be active and healthy when you are following social distancing in this COVID-19 lockdown. Since most people have started working from the home, it has become more necessary to take out time for yourself and do exercise. However, the problem arises when people come up with excuses that; they don’t know what to do, they don’t have the equipment to workout, spending time in workout takes over the time to work and many other excuses.
But it is certainly not hard to take out only five minutes and spend them in exercise daily. While this short exercise plan might seem non-effective, but it could help to maintain your physical as well as mental health.
Three physiotherapists from the University of Alberta recently hosted a live video streaming with all national and international audiences on how to stay fit and active during the COVID-19 lockdown.
Sitting for long hours increases the risk of getting cardiovascular diseases. It also makes a person more susceptible to diabetes type 2, digestive issues, obesity, and many other interlinked diseases. Sunny Deol, who is on fellow University of Alberta alumnus Robert Heimbach says that sitting for long hours adds pressure to the lower back pain and it is the biggest reason to cause disability in a person. It also increases the risk of neck pain and headache, together all these are common in people from all across the world.
The only good thing about these risks is that you can easily prevent them. Following simple exercises and stretching could help everyone. In addition to this, only five minutes of exercise can help most people to maintain their health levels during this COVID-19 lockdown.
All presenters from the University of Alberta suggest doing cardio and strength training exercises so that a person sweats and the body becomes active. The exercises included in these cardio sessions could be anything such as lunges, plants, high knees, push-ups, pull-ups, mountain climbers, crunches, etc.
Deol says that it is probably the easiest way to make sure that your physical and mental health are not at any risk. These five minute exercises are very easy and they don’t need any specific equipment to perform. Also, it is a fun way to pass the time. The stretching exercises have added benefit as they improve the body’s flexibility and postures.
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If someone is motivated enough, he can try doing a stretching session along with any high-intensity interval training three or four times a week to lose weight and maintain it for long.
This five-minute exercise has benefits for blood circulation, heart, and brain health. It helps a person to be more focused and mentally active along with physical benefits. All in all, some exercise is better than no exercise at all. And if someone wants to start doing the exercise, the best option is to follow an intermittent workout.
They quoted some research studies which show that doing exercises reduces the pain and improves mood by releasing serotonin and dopamine hormones. And all this is done without doing anything extra. After all, it is just five minutes of exercise that could provide short term as well as long term benefits.