Get moving, get up, and stay active to stay healthy, with Gérald Kierzek
Gérald Kierzek is an emergency medicine physician and intensivist, and a former resident and attending physician. As a medical commentator and columnist, he analyzes current events on TV and radio, offers medical advice, and answers health-related questions. Oh, and last but not least, he is the Medical Director of Doctissimo. His latest book, released in November 2023, explores the body—how to understand it and take care of it: Deyrolles, Lessons in Anatomy.
When the book *Pauses Yogist* by Anne-Charlotte Vuccino, founder of Yogist – Well At Work®, was released, we asked her for her expert opinion on the method she developed.
Move around, get up, and stay active to stay healthy
Tobacco, alcohol, or junk food: these are the three habits we first think of when we discuss the surge in chronic diseases—such as diabetes, high blood pressure, osteoarthritis, obesity, depression, and cardiovascular disease—in our modern societies, not to mention, of course, cancer.
And yet, the most harmful factor in the development of these diseases is a sedentary lifestyle. It is this inactivity that wreaks the most havoc on our bodies, and this is true in every country in the world, whether developed or not. This sedentary lifestyle is, of course, exacerbated by our “all-digital” way of life: screens and smartphones on which we spend hours without moving, passive. This is a particularly worrying scourge for younger generations, who are now also suffering from these “lack of movement” conditions and are even creating new ones, such as neck pain, from constantly having their heads bent over screens!
Moving around, getting up, and staying active—without necessarily engaging in formal exercise—is the most beneficial way to stay healthy.
Movement is the universal remedy
The Touraine Act was right to mandate physical activity by prescription.
Science has shown that getting enough physical activity can reduce the risk of developing certain cancers by 40%, and women who have had breast cancer can reduce their risk of recurrence by 30% if they stay physically active. But, unfortunately, this information isn’t reaching the general public! In France, we practice curative medicine, which heals or treats patients with heavy doses of medication, prescribed after a medical procedure lasting just a few minutes.
Prevention holds less appeal for the medical community because it takes time and its effects cannot be measured quickly or easily—at least not as immediately as those of a blood-pressure-lowering medication on a patient with hypertension. As for patients, they are often resistant to physical activity or healthy lifestyle changes in general, even if they know it’s good for their health. Taking a pill without any hassle seems much more convenient to them! It is for all these reasons that it is so difficult to implement effective preventive measures, even though prevention is the only guarantee of our future health.
“The Yogist method helps convey the message that movement—let alone sports—is accessible to everyone, with no contraindications.”
Prevention is better than cure
It is time to change our approach and inform our fellow citizens by explaining that they are in charge of their own health and how they can take concrete action.
People are lazy and increasingly reluctant to make an effort. We need to let them know that the most important thing is simply to get up, get moving, and—why not?—put on some sneakers! Obviously, this doesn’t mean everyone has to run a marathon.
The Yogist method helps spread the word that movement—let alone sports—is accessible to everyone, with no contraindications. Too many people are afraid to move because they have osteoarthritis or suffer from debilitating pain. Yet there are countless beneficial movements that can be done without any risk. Finally, let’s keep in mind that, throughout the day, it’s important to get your body moving every two hours. The right frequency for Yogist breaks!
