How good is your sofa for your health? How well does it support you, hold you, revive you?
Think how much thought and effort goes into selecting and buying a bed. Compare that to your humble sofa where OK, you may not spend as much time everyday sitting on it as you do lying on your bed but the hours that you do may in fact be more compromising and give rise to undue stress and strain on our bodies. This is because of the lack of support and our frequently slouched, off set posture when we are at our most tired and least motivated to hold ourselves correctly.
Consider this about your sofa:
Does it offer any head support?
Does it offer more in terms of design than ergonomics?
Do the seats match the length of your thigh or force you to slump because the seat is too long or too short?
Does the back rest hold your spine or are you forced into an awkward offset position?
Think of office workers and the time invested in office seating and work station set ups to minimise stress and strain. However, once we are home that concept of looking after ourselves can be thrown to the wind and never given a second thought.
Have a second thought
Improve what you have by placing cushions behind your head or back
Consider the points mentioned above if you are planning on changing your sofa
If you have an unsupportive sofa and even with improving what you have, if you are not investing in a new one you can still make the most of the situation; perch on the edge from time to time; intermittently stretch your body into a better position, lie on the floor for a bit, choose to sit on another seat so you are not always in a position that your body is compromised by.
Have another second thought
Apply this information to any situation where you are either sitting for a prolonged length of time or for a short time on a seat that forces you into a poor position. This could be in the cinema, theatre, restaurant or at someone else’s home where much of the time we have very little control on the quality and condition of the perch on offer. The same rules apply as for the much loved low backed saggy old sofa.
The key as with so much of maintaining a healthier body, is movement. Keep changing position as much as you can. If you have been sitting for more than 40 minutes crouch to the ground.
Remember though that however low you go you have to be able to get back up. Hold onto something stable if you are unsure of your ability.
It requires considerable balance, leg strength, confidence and lower back flexibility. These are the clues to its benefits!!
So my friends invest in your health through the choices you make when your buttocks hit the deck and let me know how you get on.
Helen R Morrison 13th April 2018 at 5:03 pm
Thank you very much.I am sitting up straight on my sofa with a cushion in the small of my back as I read your blog.
Rachel Kili 16th April 2018 at 8:56 am
Hello Helen, excellent news! Thank you for the feedback.
Rachel
Sven Kili 13th April 2018 at 5:44 pm
Great advice, thanks. I often get strange looks when crouching in the asile on the aeroplane though….
Rachel Kili 16th April 2018 at 8:58 am
Hello Sven, yes those aisles can be a challenge! Delighted to hear the blog was useful though.
Rachel
Sylvi 30th April 2018 at 9:53 pm
I like the suggestion to squat, just tried it after sitting for a while – felt good.
Not sure about the aircraft aisle though ;))
Rachel Kili 14th May 2018 at 3:21 pm
Great feedback Sylvi thank you. Never be afraid of those aisles…
Rachel