Prolonged inactivity has become a serious problem for humans. Our sedentary lifestyles have been linked to an increased incidence of cardiovascular disease, obesity, type 2 diabetes, certain cancers and all-cause mortality.
On the flip side, often when we do try and exercise regularly, it tends to involve overdosing on a specific, repetitive activity such as running, cycling, rowing or weight training, leading to overuse injuries and a general lack of mobility.
What’s the answer?
Obviously there’s nothing wrong with enjoying sports such as cycling and running (in fact enjoyment is key to maintaining your fitness over the long term), but we would all benefit from incorporating a range of activities into our daily routine, so that we can have a balance of cardio, strength and functional movement skills.
For that reason, I use a number of approaches to maintaining fitness and mobility:
High Intensity Interval Training (for cardiorespiratory fitness)
Bodyweight training/ Calisthenics (for strength training)
Natural movement training (for functional fitness, balance and mobility)