All posts tagged: Sitting

Yoon Becomes First Sitting S.Korean President To Be Arrested, Convicted & Sentenced

Yoon Becomes First Sitting S.Korean President To Be Arrested, Convicted & Sentenced

Published by Jenni Sidey

Once a sitting head of state, and now a convicted felon – and potentially much worse still to come: former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, after his dramatic fall from power and attempt to stay in office by declaring martial law in December 2024 – a move that plunged one of Asia’s most stable democracies into a brief period of chaos – is going to serve hard time. He could actually still face the death penalty (with several more charges pending related to treason), according to South Korean law as it pertains to ‘rebellion’ and treasonous activity, but he has been sentenced Friday to five years in prison after being found guilty on multiple initial charges. via Associated Press The ruling was handed down Friday by the Seoul Central District Court in televised proceedings, capping what has become one of the most explosive political trials in South Korea’s modern history – though over the decades there’s been plenty of competition and examples of ex-presidents being arrested and facing trial. Yoon, who was impeached and detained after …

Five minutes more exercise and 30 minutes less sitting could help millions live longer | Health

Five minutes more exercise and 30 minutes less sitting could help millions live longer | Health

Published by Sam Flores

Just five extra minutes of exercise and half an hour less sitting time each day could help millions of people live longer, according to research highlighting the potentially huge population benefits of making even tiny lifestyle changes. Until now, evidence about reducing the number of premature deaths assumed that everyone must meet specific targets, overlooking the positives of even minor increases in physical activity. Moderate-intensity physical activity such as brisk walking for an extra five minutes a day was associated with an estimated 10% reduction in deaths, the study of 135,000 people from the UK, US, Norway and Sweden found. Researchers led by the Norwegian School of Sport Sciences also found reducing sedentary time by 30 minutes a day was associated with an estimated 7% reduction in all deaths. The greatest benefit was seen if the least active 20% of the population increased their activity by five minutes each day. The findings were published in the Lancet. The authors stressed that while the findings should not be used as personal advice, such as specific exercise …

A trainer says this is the most underrated full-body move to build strength and undo the damage of sitting

A trainer says this is the most underrated full-body move to build strength and undo the damage of sitting

Published by Jenni Sidey

If you’re new to strength training, it can be difficult to figure out which of the dozens of exercises to choose from are worth your time. However, according to trainer Monty Simmons, there’s one move that everyone should prioritize, especially desk workers or anyone who spends hours sitting—it’s called the Romanian deadlift (RDL). Simmons says it addresses one of the key movements and positions we lose when we’re seated for a long time. You may like “When we sit all day, every day, what typically happens is that our pelvis tucks under, and we get stuck in this tucked-under pelvis position, losing the ability to properly hip hinge.” The hip hinge is important because it trains the pelvis and the thigh bone to work together smoothly, which is crucial for everyday movement. Including the RDL in your workouts is a great way to practice this movement pattern. It also helps to undo the damage of sitting. “It retrains your hips to move smoothly,” says Simmons. “If you’re bending down to pick something up, particularly if …

A Pilates instructor says this is the one move she thinks everyone should be doing in 2026, especially if you spend a lot of time sitting down

A Pilates instructor says this is the one move she thinks everyone should be doing in 2026, especially if you spend a lot of time sitting down

Published by Jenni Sidey

If your New Year’s resolution is to improve your flexibility, then there’s one move you should be doing regularly, according to Pilates instructor and physical therapist Helen O’Leary. “The mermaid is my exercise for 2026 as it is a great stretch that involves the whole body, so it gives you a lot of bang for your buck,” O’Leary says. The Pilates instructor says the best thing about the move is that it has an immediate impact. You may like “You’ll start to feel less stiff from day one of doing the mermaid stretch,” she says. “And if you do this move daily, you are likely to start seeing your hip movement improve, your back feel less stiff and your shoulder mobility increase.” O’Leary says that in addition to its flexibility-boosting properties, the move can help build strength in certain joints. “It has a bit of upper body weight-bearing, so it’s a really gentle way of building some strength in your wrists.” You can do it after a long day spent sitting down or when you’ve …

Stiff shoulders and back? This is my favorite stretch to reverse the damage from sitting at your desk

Stiff shoulders and back? This is my favorite stretch to reverse the damage from sitting at your desk

Published by Jenni Sidey

Sitting at a desk for hours plays havoc on your body, because it isn’t designed to be sedentary. Slouching and hunching over devices puts pressure on your neck, shoulders and back muscles, causing aches and pains in the short term and potentially more serious issues like obesity, type 2 diabetes and heart disease in the longer term. Studies have shown that sitting for too long can even reduce oxygen to the brain, impairing focus and problem solving. It has also been linked to anxiety and depression. “Sitting for long periods can increase loading of the spine and spinal discs, and at the same time, by not stimulating the muscles, it can work to decondition [weaken] your spine,” says Dr Rahul Shah, board-certified orthopedic spine surgeon at Premier Orthopaedic Associates. You may like “By simultaneously overloading the discs and deconditioning the back muscles, these long periods of abnormal loading and deconditioning can set us up for additional injury or backache,” he adds. If you’ve been stuck at your desk or hunched over your phone, take regular …

Sitting by a window may improve blood sugar levels for type 2 diabetes

Sitting by a window may improve blood sugar levels for type 2 diabetes

Published by skeptic

Here’s another reason to fight for a window seat: it may help regulate your blood sugar levels Anton Dios/Shutterstock Many of us sit by a window to boost our mood, but exposure to natural light during the day also seems to improve blood sugar control in people with type 2 diabetes. Our cells and tissues follow circadian rhythms, 24-hour cycles of metabolic activity that regulate things like blood sugar levels. Studies have shown that exposure to artificial light at night disrupts these rhythms, raising blood sugar levels, while spending more time outside in sunlight seems to enhance the body’s response to insulin, a hormone that helps keep these levels in check. But none of these studies explored the potential benefits of being exposed to natural light through a window, even though most people spend the vast majority of their time indoors, says Joris Hoeks at Maastricht University in the Netherlands. To learn more, Hoeks and his colleagues recruited 13 people with type 2 diabetes with an average age of 70, who spent 4.5 days in …

This desk-side Pilates workout can counteract the damaging effects of sitting with just five moves

This desk-side Pilates workout can counteract the damaging effects of sitting with just five moves

Published by Jenni Sidey

Hunching at your desk for hours or slouching over your phone or tablet can place undue stress on your back, shoulders, hips and neck. It can often be worse for home workers who don’t have the correct setup or equipment to ensure they are sitting up properly. “Working from home often means long hours spent rounded over laptops, which can lead to tight hips, slouched posture and a sleepy core,” says Allie Ryle, a qualified mat and reformer Pilates instructor at The Fitness Group, which is launching its new Sana Pilates class in January. She has created a sequence of five Pilates exercises for Fit&Well readers who work from home in front of a computer all day, to help counteract the damage done from sitting. You may like “These can be done desk-side with just a mat or a small amount of floor space,” says Ryle. “They target posture, deep core stability, spinal mobility and hip strength—the key pillars that help counteract long sedentary days.” The Pilates Desk Workout 1. Arabesque lunge reach (Image credit: …

All the L.A. bars from ‘Sitting in Bars With Cake’

All the L.A. bars from ‘Sitting in Bars With Cake’

Published by Sam Flores

If you’ve ever gone bar-hopping in Echo Park, then you know it makes sense to go to Bar Flores after hitting up Lowboy (or vice versa) because they are literally neighbors. Bar Flores sits on top of Lowboy, but to get there, you have to walk outside of Lowboy, turn to your left, then walk up a flight of tiled stairs. In the film, we’re given only a quick montage of a man devouring slices of Jane’s cake while sitting in front of Bar Flores’ picturesque bar area, which is adorned with palm plants and vibrant flowers, ceramic bowls filled with citrus fruits and fragrant burning candles — all of which could easily trick you into thinking that you’re in Mexico City rather than L.A. Also, in the film, there’s also a shot of another man eating the dessert on Bar Flores’ stunning patio, which is covered by umbrellas and draped bright-colored papel picado (a traditional Mexican craft). Whether it’s an early Monday evening or a buzzy Saturday night, the lively cocktail bar is one …