Did you get in your “Instant Recess” today?  Don’t worry, it will only take 10 minutes and no special equipment or shoes are required. 

Antronette (Toni) Yancey, researcher and professor at the UCLA Fielding School of Public Health was the founder of “Instant Recess” – a “MOVEment of ACTIVE-ists dedicated to making America healthier 10 minutes at a time.”  She believed that exercise could be done in short bursts in workplaces, schools and places of worship and wrote a book about the movement, "Instant Recess: Building a Fit Nation 10 Minutes at a Time." 

Sadly, with her recent passing, the physical activity community lost a tremendous leader.  This week, individuals and communities decided to celebrate Toni’s work by promoting Instant Recess at 4 pm ET on Tuesday, May 7^th.  Individuals were encouraged to rally their colleagues to do a short activity break.  And to make it even easier, Toni and Los Angeles Sparks created an easy, 10 minute session video you can follow.

I was at a President's Council on Fitness, Sports & Nutrition meeting on Tuesday and President’s Council member Donna Richardson Joyner led the Council and the audience in Instant Recess during the meeting.  It was a great way to get up and move and I definitely felt better when the next presentation started.  Toni was also honored at this meeting with a Lifetime Achievement Award, celebrating her commitment and dedication to the promotion of physical activity.

Even if you missed the movement on Tuesday, add it to the calendar today (and every day)!  10 minutes is an easy way to improve your health and productivity.  And, did you know, short bouts of physical activity 10 minutes or longer count toward meeting the Physical Activity Guidelines, which recommend 2.5 hours (150 minutes) of moderate-vigorous physical activity each week.

What are YOU doing to add small amounts of physical activity into your day?   

This week, we highlight new state-level physical activity data from the CDC, a successful walking school bus program in Missouri, and Instant Recess in the office environment:

State Indicator Report on Physical Activity 2010  (Source:  CDC)  Information on physical activity behavior, policy and environmental supports within each state. 

Missouri takes on childhood obesity one step at a time  (Source:  Columbia Missourian) 

Columbia, Missouri school district implements a walking school bus program as part of a school-based childhood obesity movement.