Nav Dhunay, entrepreneur, describes 5 stress-reducing exercises

Many people don’t realize that a majority of the most successful and influential people in the world have more in common than just business acumen and corporate savviness. Many leading CEOs, entrepreneurs and business people follow a health regimen as a way to ensure they are not only physically fit, but also mentally sharp.

A 2014 MSN blog post exposed the exercise routines that various well-known business leaders practice. Elon Musk, multi billionaire and founder of Tesla, PayPal and SpaceX, “likes to keep in shape by playing sports like tennis and swimming. He works out regularly in his house, which is fitted with all the health club amenities and machines,” MSN.com revealed.

Media mogul and well-known philanthropist, Oprah Winfrey, has long been an outspoken supporter of physical fitness and mental wellness. In an interview with O Magazine, Oprah's trainer revealed that her workout regimen includes “45 minutes of cardio six mornings a week, four to five strength-training sessions a week, incline crunches, and stretching.” Oprah also meditates for 20 minutes two times a day when she is able.

British business entrepreneur Richard Branson meanwhile finds inner peace through meditation. However, Branson uses Bikram Yoga exercises to induce his meditative state. Branson is also an avid runner, swimmer, mountain climber and weight lifter.

While there isn’t a universal exercise routine that will ensure business success, it’s easy to see that being active is a benefit. Finding the time to exercise is often the leading excuse when people are asked why they don’t work out — and when you live in Canada, add bad weather to the mix and regularly exercising can often seem impossible.

Still, it’s important to prioritize regular physical activity.

Nav Dhunay, a Calgary-based technological entrepreneur and CEO of Ambyint, works out often and also finds time to do brief exercises around the office. (He is also known to engage in Nerf gun war on Friday afternoons.)

Nav Dhunay credits regular exercise with his ability to stay mentally sharp and fresh. “I use bodyweight workouts and play badminton as often as I can to stay in shape,” Dhunay comments. “But, more importantly, badminton and working out is an excellent way for me to clear my mind and lower my stress level.”

There are a variety of daily exercise routines that busy professionals can incorporate in their daily lives as a way to boost physical health and reduce stress.

These are some of them.

1. Walk around. Yes, exercise can be that easy. Walking around will help clear your mind from your tasks at hand, get your blood flowing and allow you to stretch your legs. You will return to your desk feeling refreshed.

2. Stretch. Sitting at a desk hunched over a computer or holding a phone can lead to sore muscles and worse. “Stretching helps loosen tense muscles and can prevent carpal tunnel injuries,” says Nav Dhunay. “Stretching also gets your blood flowing and improves posture.”

3. Meditation. Setting aside 20 minutes a day to meditate has been proven to increase immune function, decrease pain, and reduce inflammation at the cellular level. Good to note: meditation also increases positive emotional responses, decreases depression, reduces anxiety and relieves stress.

4. Physical exercise. As little as 15 minutes of physical exercise every day can boost life expectancy by three years. “I like to do body weight training for 45 minutes a couple times a week to ensure I stay in peak physical and mental shape,” adds Nav Dhunay.

5. Find an active hobby. Whether it’s swimming, jogging, or Tai Chi, health experts recommend finding an active hobby that you enjoy doing to help increase your fitness level. “Activities that are continuous and rhythmic — and require moving both your arms and your legs ­— are especially effective at relieving stress,” a Helpguide.org post states.

Incorporating physical activity into your daily life can reduce stress and improve your overall quality of life. Regular exercise can also make you more mentally alert and enhance your ability to fight off disease and infection.