Did you know your calf muscles act like a second heart, pumping blood back up your legs toward your chest? But here’s the catch – they only work when you move regularly.
When we sit or stand still for long periods, this pump switches off. Blood pools in the lower legs, which over time can lead to swelling, tired legs, varicose veins, and circulation problems.
๐ช๐ต๐ ๐ถ๐ ๐บ๐ฎ๐๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ ๐ฎ๐ ๐๐ฒ ๐ฎ๐ด๐ฒ: Blood has to travel upwards against gravity. Without your calf muscles squeezing the veins, it struggles to return to your heart. Both sitting and standing still for too long can cause problems!
๐ง๐ต๐ฒ ๐๐ถ๐บ๐ฝ๐น๐ฒ ๐๐ผ๐น๐๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป? ๐๐ฒ๐ฒ๐ฝ ๐บ๐ผ๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด! 
Studies show that light, repeated calf movements improve:
Blood flow Blood pressure regulation Blood sugar control Leg strength and balance๐ง๐๐ผ ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐๐ ๐๐ฎ๐๐ ๐๐ผ ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐๐ถ๐๐ฎ๐๐ฒ ๐๐ผ๐๐ฟ “๐๐ฒ๐ฐ๐ผ๐ป๐ฑ ๐ต๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐”:
๐ช๐ฎ๐น๐ธ – Even short breaks once or twice an hour help
๐๐ฒ๐ฒ๐น ๐ฟ๐ฎ๐ถ๐๐ฒ๐ – Rise onto your tiptoes 10-20 times throughout the dayPeople in Blue Zones (regions with the world’s longest-living populations) naturally do lots of calf-loading movements – walking hills, standing on uneven ground, many even raise up and down on tippytoes while waiting to cross the road! It’s one reason they maintain such excellent mobility into old age.
๐๐ฎ๐ป’๐ ๐ด๐ฒ๐ ๐๐ฝ? ๐๐ผ ๐๐ผ๐ฒ ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐ต๐ฒ๐ฒ๐น ๐ฟ๐ฎ๐ถ๐๐ฒ๐ ๐๐ต๐ถ๐น๐ฒ ๐๐ถ๐๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด – lifting your toes up and down helps build strength in the feet, and coming up onto your toes while sitting helps strengthen your calves. Doing both, regularly, really helps overall health.
๐๐ผ๐๐๐ผ๐บ ๐น๐ถ๐ป๐ฒ: Your calf muscles are vital for healthy circulation. Keep them moving regularly – even doing heel raises while waiting for the kettle to boil makes a real difference!We practice heel raises and calf-strengthening movements in every ๐ฆ๐๐ฎ๐ ๐๐ฐ๐๐ถ๐๐ฒ ๐๐ผ๐ป๐ด๐ฒ๐ฟ class. Drop in to one or contact me with any questions.
Your second heart will thank you!
๐ฆ๐๐๐๐ข๐ฅ๐ – ๐ง๐๐ฒ๐๐ฑ๐ฎ๐๐ 11:00 am – 12:00 pm Seaford Con Club, 7 Dane Road, BN25 1LL
All abilities welcome – let’s move together! 
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