Have you been sitting at your desk all morning? If so, read on!
While Tuesday’s blog was about sitting consciously, today we’ll talk about the importance of sitting less!
I definitely spend far more hours than I’d like to sitting in front of a computer every day. If you’re like so many people in America (and elsewhere), it’s hard not to. Even with my regular yoga practice and teaching 10+ classes a week, sitting has taken a toll on my body. I get so wrapped up in my work that I lose sight of my posture and forget to stand up and stretch from time to time. Occasionally, hours spent at my desk even causes my right piriformis muscle to clench up, aggravating my sciatic nerve and causing my upper hamstring muscles to tense up. Definitely no fun!
I was just reminded of an excellent solution. At lunch the other day, my editor friend showed me a photo of his standing desk. I can’t wait to find or make my own!
Essentially, a standing desk is a regular desk with taller legs. When looking, find a desk that suits your height. I’m about 5’7” and have my eyes set on a 3’6” to 3’9” desk. I googled “standing desk” and was surprised how many choices were available. You can also transform a cool dresser or bookshelf into one. Fear not, it’s not necessary to sit all the time! Use a nice stool from time to time.
Studies have suggested that we not only burn more calories, but we also think faster when on our feet. This is due to an increased production of lipoprotein lipase, a molecule that plays a central role in how the body processes fats. Essentially, our metabolism can slow down after long periods of sitting, leading to sluggishness and mental fatigue. Likewise, people who use standing desks report reduced cases of back pain. Want more info on standing desks? Check out this great New York Times article by Olivia Judson.
Good luck working!
Sophie Herbert is an alignment focused yoga teacher (and perpetual student), a singer-songwriter, and a visual artist. She has lived, studied, and volunteered extensively in India; teaches yoga in Brooklyn and Manhattan; and recently released her first full-length album, "Take a Clear Look." Please visit her website at SophieHerbert.com.
From: Daniel Thaler | 6/3/11 at 4:45 am
Yes, sitting is probably the hardest non labor intensive ( heavy lifting, etc.) thing on your back. You're better off standing up or laying down flat on your back. That would be cool. An engineered work station where you can work standing up and have some kind of gizmo which allowed it to swivel somehow and be able to work while lying flat on your back. I don't know how you would keep small items from falling all over the place though. Sounds like a job for NASA. I have an inversion table and one of those big plastic exercise balls. I hang completely upside down periodically during the day on the table which really helps to decompress the spine. I use the ball to to back bending and stretching as well. You're definitely right about forgetting about your posture while sitting. I start out really sitting up straight and cognizant of my posture, but before too long, without even realizing it, I'm really slumped and look like one of those examples of how not to sit with a big X over me. Now I admittedly am going to have to look up piriformis muscle.
From: Get on Your Feet! Yoga Off the Mat | P90X2 Workouts | 6/24/11 at 5:54 am
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