First there was squats, then there was core, after that it was push ups and finally, it was Bands!  Held in January – BANDuary – is the fourth consecutive monthly fitness challenge the UP team has put together to build bonds through tools like bands. The challengers include members of the medical, service and administrative team, demonstrating that the whole brand supports the mission that movement isn’t just medicine – it’s a lifestyle!

25 consecutive days

The January challenge focused on 25 consecutive days of band-resisted hip stability exercises for 10 min at a time, with the one stipulation that all must be recorded on video and submitted as proof of completion. The exercises started simple – probably movements you might have been required to do on an early visit into UP – and became more creative each day, with individuals exploring ways to challenge their teammates. However, consistency was a constant hallmark of the challenge as you can bring the bands with you wherever you travel! We’ve even seen patients do their band-homework on airplanes! 

For those at home wishing to try their own version of BANDuary, we suggest getting a minimum of two bands with varying resistance. The stronger of the two, should be placed above the knees, with the lighter of the two just above the ankles. Keep a timer on for 10 minutes while performing varying exercises that target the hips and glutes such as squats, crab walks, glute bridges (a single leg for a bigger challenge), bicycle crunches (bring the bands around the feet), ice skaters with a hold (to test your stability) or create your own variation! 

In total, 19 eager employees began the challenge, with three accomplishing true buns of steel by the end. Congrats to Sylvia, Thomas and Cory for finishing the challenge with flying peaches!

For those at home wishing to try their own version of BANDuary, we suggest getting a minimum of two bands with varying resistance. The stronger of the two, should be placed above the knees, with the lighter of the two just above the ankles. Keep a timer on for 10 minutes while performing varying exercises that target the hips and glutes such as squats, crab walks, glute bridges (a single leg for a bigger challenge), bicycle crunches (bring the bands around the feet), ice skaters with a hold (to test your stability) or create your own variation! 

For the average individual, the amount of sitting we do in our daily lives leads us to not engaging our glutes or strengthen our hips as much as we need to. This can lead to a variety of aches and even injuries that might surprise you, such as muscle strains or tears, knee pain (including ACL or meniscus problems), tendonitis, bursitis, low back pain, poor posture and even hip fractures.

So while it not seem like much, getting those 10 minutes of bands in a day is just like ‘choosing an apple a day’. Get creative, have fun and build a routine to build up your buns!