How short gentle movement breaks transformed one woman's health

In the fall of 2023, NPR's Body Electric series inspired tens of thousands of listeners to get off their screens and move their bodies—over 20,000 people joined our study with Columbia University Medical Center that asked participants to take regular gentle movement breaks throughout the day.

One of those participants was listener Dana Lopez Maile. She was determined to commit to moving for 5 minutes every 30 minutes as consistently as possible.

A wake-up call to start putting her health first

Last year, Lopez Maile was diagnosed with atherosclerosis after a sudden stroke at just 43 years of age. It was a shocking wake-up call. Lopez Maile's doctor told her she needed to make some major changes to her diet and exercise routine, including a daily walk. She started taking her dog for a long morning walk, but after several months, her blood sugar and blood pressure numbers weren't where she wanted them to be—and she still felt off.

That's when she discovered Body Electric and heard about Columbia University's recommendation for 5 minutes of movement every 30 minutes—and something clicked for her.

"That seemed doable and it certainly seemed like something I can incorporate into my remote work lifestyle," said Lopez Maile. "So I figured, well, why not? What do I have to lose?"

The life-changing effects of gentle movement breaks

Lopez Maile began taking gentle movement breaks every half hour, using a timer and the treadmill that had been collecting dust in the corner of her office. She quickly found that she felt so much better—she was happier, more energized, and her brain felt less cloudy.

The movement breaks also paid off quickly: after two weeks, Lopez Maile's blood pressure was down 40 points since before starting the study, and her cholesterol was better than the normal range.

In the months since the study wrapped, she has kept up the routine and continued to see improvements in her blood pressure and cholesterol levels. For Lopez Maile, this lifestyle shift has been a game-changer for her health.

"I don't want to take life for granted," she said. "I was really dangerously close to having a heart attack or dying young. So, that gives you some perspective. Life is beautiful. Stay kind. Move your body. It will thank you. I promise."

Interested in incorporating more movement into your daily life?

Join the Body Electric Challenge. Go to npr.org/bodyelectric to sign up for a quick guide to get off your screens and move your body.

This story was written by Katie Monteleone and edited by Amanda Orr and Rachel Faulkner White. It is part of Body Electric — NPR's podcast series exploring the relationship between technology and the human body.

Listen to the whole series here. Talk to us on Instagram @ManoushZ, or record a voice memo and email it to us at BodyElectric@npr.org.

The audio version of this story was produced by Katie Monteleone, and edited by Sanaz Meshkinpour.

Original music by David Herman. Our audio engineer was Joshua Newell.

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