Fitness Group Shares Solutions to Desk Jockeys’ Problems

Desk jobs make employees prone to leading sedentary lives that eventually result in everyday sluggishness and recurring illnesses or injuries.

In an effort to encourage people to remain fit without compromising professional duties, Dynamic Duo’s Rica Rodriguez and Divine Masinsin conducted the third and last leg of the Urban Fitness Series last Sunday, at Warehouse Eight, Makati.

Aiming to provide quality education and training both for fitness professionals and enthusiasts, Dynamic Duo addresses the need for internationally-recognized fitness courses and programs to elevate the standards of the local fitness industry.

The session on November 5 focused on mobility and stability. An educational discussion prior to the actual exercises kicked off the workshop. Rodriguez defined mobility as the ability to move freely and easily, whereas stability is the ability to sustain balance while in motion. Rodriguez further explained that body movements can be sagittal (forward and backward movement), frontal (lateral movement), and transverse (rotational movement or parallel to the waistline).

Participants had a clear understanding of the lesson when they were asked to do a series of activities to execute the movements. The point was to make them realize that many people, especially the “desk jockeys,” are most likely unaware of what the body is capable of doing in terms of movement.

Rodriguez also explained why it was necessary to be scientifically aware of how the body systems worked, “A lot of clients appreciate fitness routines more when they know why they’re doing them, rather than we just tell them to do those. There’s more commitment when they know the reason behind,” she said.

Rodriguez added that the movements should be performed appropriately with proper recognition of the joints: the ankle, hips, t-spine, neck, shoulder, and wrist are called the mobile joints, while the foot, knee, low back, scapula, and elbow are called the stable joints.

Following the warm-up exercises was the TriggerPoint foam rolling. The foam roller is a minimal equipment that simplifies fitness, convenient for the user, yet allows the body to perform at its best. Rodriguez explained that through ischemic pressure, or the process of momentarily obstructing blood flow to the muscle, foam rolling is proven to flash toxins through increasing blood circulation, which then allows recovery to begin in the body.

The exercise was particularly for the joints and muscles of the body parts that are usually disregarded when a person moves: the foot, calf, quads, glutes, adductors, ITB/Anterior lateral thigh, latissimus dorsi, chest, and the mid back.

As the foam roller prepared the body for more intensive movements, Masinsin initiated the bodyArt session. Classified as a mind and body fitness program, bodyART involves a fusion of pilates, yoga, little bit of therapy, and dance.

“That’s the nice thing about bodyART, it has something for everyone. It has both the relaxation and the athletic side, which provide a calming experience, while at the same time, help strengthen the body,” Masinsin said.

While people have their respective fitness goals and specific requirements to achieve, it’s not necessary to be a gym buff in order to be fitness-conscious.

“To remain fit, one has just to find something that they enjoy doing and set small goals at a time. Just find different ways and activities to include movement,” Rodriguez pointed out.

Having been in the fitness industry for almost 17 years, Dynamic Duo has established their reputation by bringing high quality services through the work they do in group classes, personal training, fitness events, gym and trainer/staff management, fitness class setup, and fitness education.

As part of their preparation for FitCon Manila in May 2018, Dubai-based Masinsin and Rodriguez will return to the Philippines to conduct more courses in December.