We’re in a leap year, leaping out of national heart month and into, well… Where exactly? The question from PATH is where are we leaping? Into Spring, right? The skies are getting brighter morning and night. Why Daylight Savings is only 12 days away (yeah, count ’em) and the official date of spring just a mere seven days further out.
Optimism is in the air! Let’s prepare for the warmth and the bright sunshine that awaits around the corner.
First let’s really get rosy and put our winter woes aside, into the fable jar:
“Leaping away from my mistakes has propelled me forward. It has great force behind it. It makes for great storytelling.” — Holly Near
Won’t it be fun to tell them around summer bonfires? All the while being stronger, more fit with each day that passes?
Next, get ready to take a leap of faith in yourself and open up to new challenges:
“All growth is a leap in the dark, a spontaneous, unpremeditated act without benefit of experience.” — Henry Miller
Without experience we can’t predict what will happen when you jump into newness. We can predict what will happen if we never get off our duff. Try a new class, a new walking route, a new calisthenic exercise, a new Olga suggestion (read our archives). Challenge your brain and savor the feeling of delight once you’ve done it.
“There is no prescribed route to follow to arrive at a new idea. You have to make the intuitive leap.” — Stephen Hawking
Finally, take a leap into March with a new approach to your own work station(s). We meant to have a standing station months ago but the fun screen was low and the small, boring screen was high. Hence, little to no takers at the standing side. So we switched it, duh! Big screen, big placement – eye level for standing. Sitting is now a distant memory.
In short, use the light peaking into winter’s end to get creative! Excite your world and leap forward.
“When in doubt, make a fool of yourself. There is a microscopically thin line between being brilliantly creative and acting like the most gigantic idiot on earth. So what the [heck], leap.” — Cynthia Heimel
Try Olga’s exercise this week to strengthen your leaping leg muscles. See below for picture and instructions.
You in Your Workplace:
Standing stations don’t have to be expensive. Be creative. We found unused bins, boxes and tables that did the trick. Be prepared to be tired at the end of the first couple of days. It’s definitely more work than sitting – but all good. It takes a while for posture to change and backs to get stronger so be patient with your bodies and ease into it.
If you have workers who are on their feet a lot (i.e. not desk-bound), they’ll need a different kind of support. Strength training, stretch and yoga are the best remedy for those who are on their feet and moving all day. It’s a great opportunity to begin a 10-week stretching regimen when they arrive and leave work. Think about Chinese schools that start their day with Tai Chi. Just imagine!
See you leaping forward on the PATH Ahead!
Olga’s Leap Kicks:
- Stand next to a chair that won’t slip out or use a counter top. Put you left hand behind your head and bend your left knee to lift the left foot up in the air. Curl or round your body toward the chair/counter, tightening your abs and bringing your elbow to your bent knee.
- Next, rotate your body out to the left leading with your elbow and knee so that you open up the chest and hip. If you’re very flexible, balanced, and strong, turn farther out and kick your left leg out in a marital arts reverse kick – Pow!
- Without setting your foot down, now curlback into your core where you began, tightening the abs and crunch with the elbow toward the knee. Repeat 5-15 times and switch sides.
Good luck!