A to Z of Stopping Smoking

Isometric exercises involve tensing and relaxing muscles in your body. Research shows they do temporarily help relieve cravings.

Here is a short isometric exercise:

1. Sit upright in a chair and breathe normally.

2. Tense the muscles in your calves for 10 seconds.

3. Relax your muscles for 5 seconds.

4. Tense the muscles in your thighs for 10 seconds.

5. Relax your muscles for 5 seconds.

6. Repeat from step 1.

You can do this exercise anywhere, try to keep your face and upper body relaxed while you tense and relax your leg muscles. Isometric exercises are particularly useful if you can't go out for a walk (for example if you're in a meeting) but still want to reduce your cravings.