The Invisible Workout: Using Daily Movements to Stay in Shape

Geezer knows many people who are perhaps too proud of such habits as taking the stairs instead of the elevator, or walking the six blocks to a meeting instead of taking a cab. But practices like those are just the first steps, so to speak, of a daily universe of movements that can be turned into strength-building and balance-building routines. The Washington Post reports on a new book by Pilates instructor Brooke Siler that tells us how to do that, lots and lots of ways. Now available in paper, Your Ultimate Pilates Challenge reminds us that the common principle of Pilates health is activating the core
abdominal muscles. And, as the Post reports, the common principle of Siler’s advice can be summed up like this: Your stomach should be pulled in and up, your chest lifted, your spine
straight and your weight evenly distributed. Increase your awareness of
how you sit, stand, lift and carry throughout the day, and
you’ll start to think of fitness not as a once-a-day chore but a way to
move through the world.