How Mini Workouts Can Maximize Your Health

By Sandy Schroeder

Sometimes exercise seems like an all or nothing proposition. If you are not out there doing a full workout or walking every morning, you may feel like you are jeopardizing your health, but research says every little bit matters.

HarvardHealth researchers say even a workout that is broken up throughout the day can be effective. Regular daily exercise, however you put it together, can help fight infection, reduce the risk for high blood pressure, heart disease and colon cancer, and improve mood. That’s a lot of health benefits for a modest amount of effort.

You may decide to use 15-minute segments throughout the day, plus 5-minute breaks every hour on the job. Or you may use several 10- or 20-minute segments to keep walking and stretching all day.

If you are ready to figure it out, stop by The Joint Chiropractic clinic near you and get some help from the best wellness coaches around. The Joint’s doctors of chiropractic help everyone from teens to seniors put together the best fitness plans every day.

When you come in, you will learn how improving spinal health can make a difference in overall health. The central nervous system that controls every move the body makes is housed in the spine. When that brain-to-body communication network works well, overall health may be good, too.

A gentle targeted spinal adjustment may help to ease stress, erase aches and pains, and generate fresh energy. Weekly 15-minute spinal adjustments may be the best way to keep the health benefits coming.

Then you can use mini-workouts to burn enough calories to maintain or lose weight. Three or four 10-minute sessions will give you the cumulative workout time needed.  Here are some starter mini-workouts from shape.com. Check with your doctor before beginning new exercises.

Stationary jog - Jog in place lifting knees and swinging arms. Land gently on balls of feet.

Jumping jacks - Stand with feet together. Jump while separating legs and raising arms. Land with feet apart. Jump while bringing feet back together.

Step-ups - Use a curb, stair or low bench to step up with one foot, and then then the other.

Jump squat - Spread feet apart. Bend knees and lower hips into a squat. Jump and straighten legs. Land softly.

Hamstring stretch - Step sideways with right foot. Bring left heel up to buttocks. Alternate and repeat.

Jump split - Stand with one foot forward in a long stride. Bend knees and jump, switching legs and pumping arms. Alternate legs.

Stop by The Joint Chiropractic clinic near you to get started with your fitness plans. Find out about the affordable personal healthcare plans that eliminate the hassle of insurance. No appointments are needed and weekend and evening hours are available.

To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Colorado Springs, Colo.

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