Hit the Stairs

When faced with the choice of stairs or elevator throughout your commute, which should you choose? Stairs, of course, but not for just the obvious reasons.

— A longterm study of 10,000 men found that those who climbed 20 to 34 flights of stairs each week (that’s just 3 to 5 per day) reduced their risk of stroke by 29 percent. The findings were true regardless of how much the participants exercised on their own.

— Taking the stairs can help break up the lactic acid from intense physical activity. Your muscles will thank you. 

— Based on data from the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, it’s been estimated that if American adults spent two extra minutes per day climbing stairs, they would offset their annual average weight gain.

— What’s more, according to an NPR report on stair-climbing, taking the stairs actually burns more calories per minute than jogging. 

Even when you’re heading home after rehearsal and your body is exhausted, skip the elevator and go for a climb.