– contributed by Lizette R. Barton (sitness guru).
While rifling through the David Shakow papers I came across a Navy/Marine Corps booklet titled “Shape Up: A New Program of Exercise to Build Fitness Right at Your Desk.”
Fitness right at my desk? Tell me more.
The news got even better when I opened the booklet and learned a bit more about Isometrics. #1 It’s a science. #2 It’s exercise without movement and #3 it requires just 54 seconds per day. SOLD!
“Using the nine basic exercises described here, you can work toward physical fitness right at your desk – and in 54 seconds a day.”
My own enthusiasm led me to believe that my colleagues here at the Cummings Center for the History of Psychology might be interested as well. I was right.
Assistant Processing Archivist Emily Gainer demonstrating “The Hand Press”
Building coordinator Dorothy Gruich demonstrating “The Neck Presser”
Assistant Director Dr. Cathy Faye demonstrating the “Tummy Tightener” (complete with facial expression to really sell it)
IHSC curator and instructor Fran Ugalde demonstrating “The Criss-Cross”
Director Dr. David Baker demonstrating “The Body Lift”
The nine exercises highlighted in “Shape Up” were, “…designed specifically for those individuals in the Navy and Marine Corps whose duties or location restrict their ability to engage in athletic activities or other fitness programs….and those in other sedentary occupations.”
If you have a chair and a desk along with some initiative, pride, and desire maybe it’s time you take your exercise sitting down this year.
New year, new you. Am I right?
David Shakow papers, M1312, folder “Pamphlets”
