Even if you can’t stand being chained to a desk for 8 hours every day, sometimes it isn’t a choice – especially if you’re based in an office. Unfortunately, this kind of sedentary behavior can lead to a host of health problems sometime in the future. After all, sitting around and being inactive all day long can play a part in affecting the way your body controls sugar levels and blood pressure while slowing down your metabolism.
While you can’t change the nature of your office job and probably have to continue sitting in front of a laptop daily, you have power over what you do when you aren’t at work. If you’re thinking of undoing some of the damage that your desk job is causing you, then maybe it’s time to head to a martial arts gym for some training.
Today, Evolve Daily shares 5 Ways Martial Arts Can Fix The Damage Caused By Your Desk Job:
1) It strengthens your body
A single Muay Thai class can help you burn up to 1,000 calories per hour.
If you think that sitting for long hours is harmless, think again. For starters, when you don’t move much, your body uses less blood sugar. Research has found that for every two hours you sit per day, your chances of getting diabetes increases by 7%.
Besides that, spending the day on your chair has a negative impact on your posture, spine health, and joints, which can cause chronic lower back pain and tense shoulders. Also, long periods of inactivity can result in the stiffening of the arthritic joint, and weaken the adjoining tissue. So why not strengthen your body by picking up martial arts? You will not only be learning to defend yourself but also getting into the best shape of your life.
2) It is a great way to de-stress
Just another awesome Muay Thai class at Evolve MMA!
On a scale of 1 to 10, how stressed out do you get at work? With so many tasks and day-to-day worries to handle, it comes as no surprise that we end up feeling crappy most days. Unfortunately, sitting down the entire day won’t help you feel better. In fact, it has been found that when you’re still, there is less blood flow, and as a result, there are fewer feel-good hormones that get circulated to your brain. Hence, simply sitting at your desk could potentially be adding to your stress and misery.
Fortunately, you can boost your mood by training martial arts – which has been scientifically proven to keep you happy and reduce stress levels. Besides the fact that it gives you an endorphin rush, training is also a healthy place for you to vent your frustrations from work and de-stress. When you do so regularly, you’ll find that you’re generally not as moody.
3) It keeps you fit and active
ONE Superstar Amir Khan trains hard at the Evolve Fighters Program.
One of the biggest problems with your desk job is that you’re keeping still and sitting for long periods of time. When this happens, the muscles you engage for movement, such as your legs, become immobile and this slows your circulation as well as causes you to burn fewer calories. Your enzymes which are responsible for breaking down fat also start to switch off; hence, you will put on more weight.
If you don’t want to gain those unwanted kilos and slow down your metabolism, then it’s time to reverse what your desk job does by hitting the gym! Martial arts is a great full body workout which also happens to torch heaps of calories at the same time – so you will definitely be working your various muscle groups while also staying active.
4) It boosts your cognitive function
The spider guard is one of the most difficult BJJ guards to pass.
Did you know that sitting isn’t only bad for the body, but for the mind too? When we engage in sedentary behavior for a long time, our brain function slows down. In contrast to that, moving muscles have the ability to pump fresh blood and oxygen to the brain.
Studies have shown that the physical activity you do today can actually benefit cognitive function for decades after and even reduce the chances of getting dementia. So there’s no doubt that your next BJJ class can benefit your mind, in addition to your body.
5) It keeps you healthy from the inside out
Stretching is a great way to warm-up before a martial arts class.
We sometimes don’t take care of ourselves properly at work. Besides the fact that we sit for long hours, we also sometimes make unhealthy decisions when it comes to lunch choices or perhaps go for too many after work drinking sessions. Unfortunately, this is how toxins enter our bodies and make us sick.
However, it doesn’t have to always be that way if you choose to train martial arts. This is because martial arts can boost your immune system by helping with the detoxification process. When you engage in physical activity, your organs get cleansed by the blood and lymph that get circulated. Also, the capacity of your lungs increases as carbon dioxide gets expelled as a waste product, while your heart muscles get stronger. So you will definitely be getting healthy, not just outside, but inside too.
As busy as you are, it helps to remember that your health and well-being matter. Plus, one hour is only 4% of your day. So why not make the most out of that hour a few times a week and get into the best shape ever?
Book your complimentary trial class with our World Champions below!
If you have any other questions regarding Evolve MMA and the programs we offer, you can get in touch with our membership executives at the following locations:
Evolve MMA (Far East Square)
26 China Street
Far East Square #01-01
Singapore 049568
Phone: (65) 6536 4525
Evolve MMA (Orchard Central)
181 Orchard Road
#06-01 Orchard Central
Singapore 238896
Phone: (65) 6536 4556
Evolve MMA (KINEX)
11 Tanjong Katong Road
#02-52 KINEX
Singapore 437157
Phone: (65) 6288 2293
Evolve MMA (Clarke Quay Central)
6 Eu Tong Sen Street
#04-18 Clarke Quay Central
Singapore 059817
Phone: (65) 6226 2150
Evolve MMA (Star Vista)
1 Vista Exchange Green
#02-26A The Star Vista
Singapore 138617
Phone: (65) 6539 9590
