"When we were kids in school, we all looked forward to recess," said Dr. Antronette Yancey of the UCLA School of Public Health. "We need better branding for physical activity."
Author of "Instant Recess: Building a Fit Nation 10 Minutes at a Time," Yancey says a whole lot of bad things happen when you sit all day, like heart disease, stroke and cancer.
Yet as little as five to 10 extra active minutes a day would fight arthritis and osteoporosis, lift depression and elevate cognitive function.
Some companies are installing a few Trek Desks for sharing, where the user walks only a mile per hour, but it helps keep bones strong, the blood moving and calories revved.
The desk is $479. Combine it with an inexpensive treadmill, as walking slow is the only option.
No Trek Desk? No problem. The point is to take a break to get you out of the chair. You don't need sweats or sweating - just something that gives you a little glow.
It doesn't have to be hard. Just pick a low-impact activity that burns calories, Yancey says.
"Instant Recess" is available for schools and workplace in DVD or download form. It has everything from salsa, African, hip hop to sports moves.
Yancey even helped design an online calculation for employers that shows how much they'll get back by giving employees recess.
LL Bean found that for every 15 minutes invested, they got 30 minutes of productivity, Yancey said.
The current government guideline to get 30 minutes or more of rigorous activity five days a week is achieved by a mere 5 percent of Americans.
In L.A. County, statistics are worse: About 40 percent gets less than 10 minutes per week of continuous activity.
So rather than surf the Web or flap lips at the cooler, Yancey says loosen your tie, kick off your shoes and play.
"Really, there's almost no organ system that regular physical activity can't improve," she said.
For downloadable "Instant Recess" programs, visit: http://www.gramercyresearch.com/gramercy/
To order the "Instant Recess DVDs and materials, visit Journeyworks.com or Amazon.com.
