This week marks Exercise Right Week, a reminder for us all to get more active. This year’s theme, ‘Exercise changes lives’ highlights the importance of exercise in developing and maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
While it is easy to fall into a sedentary state, particularly if you have experienced a shift in routine or work environment, it is important to ensure you are getting the right advice for you and your environment. If you’re struggling to get motivated, the Exercise Right website has resources to help with getting active and better ageing. There is also information on how to Exercise Right at Home.
Here are some small ways you can get started:
- Swap slippers for runners – having a pair of runners at your desk can be a helpful reminder to take a break, put on your runners and go for a walk!
- Headspace – your physical health and your mental health are connected. You can try sitting still for 10 minutes, a meditation session or even just focusing on deep breathing when performing day-to-day tasks like boiling the kettle.
- Establish new ways – get creative in finding small ways to improve your physical fitness. Park further away from the entrance at work, take walk in between meetings or clients or set yourself exercise tasks for the day.
- Technology – if you have a smartphone or smartwatch, you can use them to count your steps or keep track of your physical activity throughout the day.
At Monash Health, we have an expert team of Exercise Physiologists finding new and innovative ways to continue providing the best care to our patients.
Recently, the Exercise Physiology team have commenced an Online Oncology Rehab Program. This program aims to provide structured exercise to oncology patients after treatment. At the height of the pandemic, it was important to reduce the time vulnerable people spent in the community. This program allows patients to establish and maintain an exercise program at home with the help of our Exercise Physiologists.
“Many cancer patients have to deal with treatment-related side effects such as muscle wastage and fatigue,” says Exercise Physiologist Ashleigh Cairns, who is leading the work on the new program.
“Due to their vulnerable state, being in the community places them at more risk of becoming unwell. Clients are excited that there is a program at Monash Health tailored for oncology rehabilitation that can be performed safely at home.”
Remember, the team are offering virtual exercise classes to employees during lunchtime throughout Exercise Right Week. These sessions are a great way to break up your day and are easy to join. You can find more information, including Webex details, by downloading the flyer.
At a recent employee forum, our Exercise Physiology team talked about the link between exercise and mental health. If you missed the forum, you can watch it here.
For more resources on how to maintain your physical health, you can visit the Monash Health COVID-19 website.
Approved by Stuart Cavill