Why You Should Be Floor Sitting Right Now
By Sandy Schroeder
After sitting at work all day you may not be tempted to plop down on the floor, but WellAndGood.com says you may live longer if you do.
Enjoying a stronger more flexible body on the court, in action at home, and on the go can be as simple as including floor sitting in your life.
If you enjoy yoga you may already know the benefits of sitting on your yoga mat. You are aware of your whole body and your mind relaxes as you move from one pose to another. What if you kept going with sitting, opening up your family room and encouraging floor sitting as you eat at a coffee table or sit in the grass at the park. Choosing to squat and sit on the floor as often as possible can work wonders on your muscles and strength.
In Japan, people keep furniture to a minimum to encourage floor sitting. Even seniors get up and down from the floor 30 or 40 times a day and do as many squats. Imagine how flexible we would be if that were our daily routine.
Floor sitting can strengthen core muscles, improve balance to avoid falls and keep your whole body aligned to perform at its best.
How to Try It
- Start slowly and gradually increase your floor sitting.
- Pay attention to your posture and avoid slouching
- Keep your weight centered over your hips
- Sit on a cushion, a folded blanket to raise the hips for better alignment
Overall, try to create continual posture shifts throughout the day. Provide mats, cushions, and tables at various levels to boost circulation, blood flow and energy and create a deeper sense of your body.
Ways to Squat and Floor Sit Every Day
- Picnic at the park sitting on a blanket or the grass
- Take a mat to work and sit on the floor after lunch or during morning and afternoon breaks
- Learn to floor sit as you read to your kids in the evening
- Watch your favorite shows from a comfortable cushion
- Work squats into your home tasks
Include Your Family
At first your family may question floor sitting. Or they may already be doing it as they sit on the floor with a laptop or play a game. Take a good look at your house and see how you can encourage floor sitting and squatting.
You will feel stronger and more flexible and your kids may enjoy sports more as their bodies become more powerful.
Keep looking for more ways to mobilize your body. As you spring up from the floor and sit on the grass in your backyard, you will feel the difference. Enjoy!
To learn more about your health, wellness and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Seal Beach, Calif.