Ann's keep your health and sanity corner
1 minute exercises for your health and sanity 

Seated Office work and teaching where standing and moving slowly around your class is often the norm, can be very tiring but isn't really exercise except for the mind. We all know that a sedentary life is not good for the heart or other organs. To keep your heart healthy and body functioning well - and to also assist you in keeping the class happy and calm - do the following 6o second exercise at the start and end of every class or after each hour of being continuously seated at your desk.

For one minute

Do Jumping Jacks – say, 4 to start. Alternate with 4 standing squats or perhaps the simple almost forgotten stretch up to touch the ceiling, then bend your knees and touch your toes action. The average is 16 – 20 actions per minute. Or do your favourite dance moves, as long as they can be done in small space. End the exercise with 3 long slow full breaths and hey presto! You and everyone else are ready to go back to work or their next class. By the end of the day you could havbe already achieved 12 to 15 minutes of your 30 minutes a day. A quick 10 -15 minute walk round the block and a few crunchies and stretches after tea and you will have achieved about 35 to 40 minutes for the day - Easy and effective, within a week your body and mind will love you for it.

Class exercise

Ask the class members to bring in their own music and show you their favourite moves. Remember though, you might need 5 minutes to set this up, so make sure you have enough time.

Just keep it simple with the jumping jacks, squats and touch your toes and always end with 3 big breaths, it all works.

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