Strength Starts from Your Chair

Fitness Made Easy #1

Physical fitness plays a key role in long-term health. Countless scientific studies show that regular exercise helps the body resist disease and other health problems.

Many people assume that exercising means going to a gym, lifting heavy weights, or spending hours on cardio. In reality, you can improve your health with simple exercises at home.

Chair Sit & Stand

• Find a straight-backed chair, like a dining room chair.
• Sit down without using your hands.
• Stand up without using your hands.
• Repeat as many times as you can over 1–2 minutes.

If this feels too easy, gradually increase the duration in small increments of 30 seconds to 1 minute at a time or until it challenges you slightly. Do this exercise 3–4 times a day.

This routine takes only about 8 minutes total per day, spread throughout the day. As you repeat it consistently, your strength and endurance will improve. Track your progress weekly to see measurable results.

Tip: If you have  high cholesterol or high blood sugar, schedule bloodwork every 2–4 months while following this exercise. This lets you monitor how your body responds to your new routine. If you have high blood-pressure be sure to monitor it before you begin exercising and after you complete exercise, rest for 15 to 20 minutes and take your blood-pressure again.