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A sedentary lifestyle is not new to most of us. With a 9-5 schedule, most of us spent the majority of our time seated in front of a screen – activities were restricted to those who had the time or inclination to play a sport, go to the gym, or even dance.

However, another inconvenience the lockdown has brought upon us is taking away the option to move around and allow our muscles to stretch and breath. A sedentary lifestyle isn’t a healthy one to begin with – that coupled with the lockdown has worsened physical health. 

These are a few things you can incorporate into your daily routine to ensure physical fitness even while being stuck at home.

• Brisk walking – This is a simple, and fairly leisurely way to ensure your body gets some exercise. It keeps your heart rate up and boosts muscles.  It’s a better form of exercise than jogging as it exerts less impact over the joints in case one suffers from weak knees or ankle.
• Regular stretching –  An essential activity to keep your muscles intact and in the correct position. It’s best to stretch all the different muscles in the neck, back, chest, abdomen, sides, arms, calves and thighs.
• Yoga – A practice that has ancient origins that is best recommended for stretching and muscle building at the same time. Some of the best positions to ease mental discipline and focus are Surya Namaskar and Kapalbhati.
• Zumba – For some people, following exercise routines can get mundane or boring. Zumba is a fun option that replaces other cardio activities. It’s easily accessible through multiple videos online.
• Squats – This requires you to lower yourself from a standing position into a semi-sitting position.Squats are an easy way to get your daily dose of balance exercise. It doesn’t require any equipment and is easy to do as well.

There are two major positive outcomes of physical fitness – physical health and mental health. Apart from keeping your body and muscles healthy, it reduces mental fatigue, releases endorphins (“happy hormones”), and improves sleep. During times of uncertainty and turmoil, we should take all measures we can to make ourselves holistically better.