Made to Move - Why Movement is Essential for Health

Our bodies are made for movement.  As a massage practitioner, I work on soft tissues of the body, namely muscles, ligaments, tendons and the connective tissue that surrounds and interweaves all of this called fascia.  These tissues are designed for movement.
Unfortunately, many of us have jobs that place us in immobile positions for long periods of time, often sitting positions, often leaning forward over a desk or computer.  When we remain in one position for too long, certain muscles are held tightly static, while others are lax.  This can cause postural problems and atrophy of muscle tissue, it can reduce flexibility and diminish metabolism and circulation in muscle tissues.
This is often why we may feel sore after sitting at a desk for hours at a time, or why postural problems and back pain can develop over the long term.
Movement is needed for healthy circulation of the body which brings nutrients and removes waste products from muscles and all other vital tissues in the body.  It increases the amount of oxygen going to your cells which can leave you feeling more energetic and vital.
Movement is an essential part of heath.  The body needs a variety of movement for muscle tonicity to stay in balance, maintaining healthy posture.
And as we've all heard before, exercise leads to a release of endorphins into the bloodstream which decreases stress, boosts immunity, and makes you feel good.
So what do you do if you have a job where you are sitting in one position for long periods of time?
Move!
Take breaks at least once an hour to walk around, stretch.
Pay attention to your body and be aware, would it feel good to do; neck rolls, shoulder rolls, stretch your back, drink water?  Your body will tell you what kind of movement it needs to restore balance.
An exercise you can do almost any time while sitting at a desk or even during a meeting: Sit on the edge of your chair with your feet flat on the floor.  Alternate pushing your feet gently into the floor.  You can also do this while standing.  Few people will even notice you are doing it.
Experiment.  See how you feel after doing this exercise and how you feel when you don't do it.
Even subtle movements can make a big difference.
Because our bodies were made to and love to move!