Staying Fit During Isolation with Siddiqu Muhammad
Fitness Instructor, Siddiqu Muhammad, has come up with four easy ways to stay healthy while social distancing. Make sure you tune into our Facebook Live, “Can’t Stop the Movement” event where Siddiqu will give move advice on how to stay healthy.
1. Keep Eating Healthy – This is a time to take a break from fast food and restaurant meals by eating home cooked meals. During this isolation remember that you may not be as active as on a normal day, so your caloric intake could be less. Try not to eat out of boredom, and be very intentional with every meal. You can actually improve your health during this time by eating as well as you can.
2. Exercise Every Day – Just one exercise session can help strengthen your immune system. Stretching for 15 minutes can count as an exercise session. Doing a workout video can count as an exercise session. The goal is to be active in some form daily to not only strengthen your immune system, but also fight depression. The human body is the ultimate gym. Every exercise you do in a gym can be duplicated at home by just using your own body.
3. Practice Intentional Breathing – During this time of uncertainty it is normal for anxiety or depression to set in. To combat these negative emotions, spend five minutes daily doing deep breathing exercises. Deep breathing will relax your body and also your mind. Turn off your phone and the TV and just settle your mind.
Deep Breathing Exercise
- Get comfortable.You can lie on your back in bed or on the floor with a pillow under your head and knees
- Breathe in through your nose. Let your belly fill with air
- Breathe out through your nose
- Place one hand on your belly
- As you breathe in, feel your belly rise
- Take three more full, deep breaths
4. Watch Motivational Videos – What you digest is not just physical, but mental as well. In a normal TV day during this isolation time, it’s not uncommon to watch hours of the news or hours of crime TV. Guess what happens when you watch fiction and non-fiction shows about death and despair constantly? Yes, your mind starts to produce unhealthy thoughts. So make sure daily that you take a break from the news and TV shows and tune into something that inspires you.