LIFE+ Blog

I first thought of the toll commuting takes on people’s bodies about a year ago, when I worked as a home health therapist.

I spent most of my day in a car driving from patient to patient.  The longer I sat, the more aches and pains I seemed to have.  That is when I compounded 4 simple exercises I could do in the car, while at a stop light or even while sitting in traffic. Try these out and see how you feel after that long commute to work.

Scapular Retraction

• This exercise promotes better posture and positions your shoulders in in their happy place.
• All you need to do for this exercise is pinch your shoulder blades together.
• Make sure not to shrug your shoulders as you do this.
• Repeat 15 times.

Chin Tucks

• The best way to do this exercise is to try to make a double chin while pushing the back of your head into your head rest.
• This exercise helps prevent neck pain and improve posture.
• Repeat 10 times.

Abdominal Bracing

• Hold 5 seconds, repeat 5 times.
• This exercise encourages your body to use your core while sitting in order to prevent low back pain.
• Start by making sure you are sitting up straight.
• Then pull in your belly button in while visualizing it touching the back of your seat (like you are at the beach in you bathing suit).
• You want to make sure you breathe while pulling that belly button in. Don’t hold your breath.

Glute Activation

• This exercise will wake up your bottom in order to prepare for your long awaited walk into work.
• The easiest way to do this exercise is to sit up straight and squeeze your cheeks together.
• Repeat 15 times.

Try It!

Incorporating these 4 exercises into your daily commute will make a huge difference in the way you feel before and after work.

You will find yourself becoming more conscious of your posture throughout the day and feel a little less stressed during the commute.

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