Many people come to see me initially because of recurring back pain.
In fact, that is how my husband and I first discovered the Feldenkrais Method® of Movement Education. In 1988 he had a flare up of his chronic back pain, eventually requiring surgery for a herniated lumbar disc. Before surgery he learned about a Feldenkrais Practitioner in Toronto (now our good friend Marion Harris) and worked with her individually and attended her classes for the 12 years we lived there. And then both he and I eventually completed the Feldenkrais Professional training program.
People with back pain will usually say that sitting is more difficult for them than standing. In fact sitting puts about 50% more weight into the lower back than does standing. I don’t have a back problem but I prefer to stand rather than sit when given the opportunity. Sitting for hours on end is not good for back health and also compromises other health conditions.
This week, another article was published reminding us that prolonged sitting is not healthy. The article even suggests that sitting for more than 3 hours a day can potentially shorten life expectancy by two years.
Regular exercise, while very important, does not negate the risks. Prolonged sitting is the culprit here.
I encourage all my clients, particularly those with desk jobs, to stand up frequently.
- Some easy to implement strategies to stand up for health:
- Set the clock on your computer for 15-20 minute intervals.
- If you have recurrent back, neck or shoulder pain when sitting, set it for a shorter interval.
- Stand up when it rings and move around for 1-2 minutes.
- If your alarm alerts you about a meeting you won’t ignore it so don’t ignore this one.
- If you have recurrent back pain, try an adjustable set up where you can raise the desk and stand up to work for some part of the day.
- Try sitting on an exercise ball for short periods during the day. This will keep you moving and also make you use your body differently while sitting.
- When you do sit, don’t lean against the back of your chair.
- Uncross your legs and plant your feet firmly planted on the floor.
- When flying, particularly on longer flights, get up at least every 30 minutes and walk the length of the cabin 2-3 times.
Congratulations to the new grads
The most recent Professional Feldenkrais training program which was held in Victoria, just finished. Congratulations to the new graduates, some of whom are from Vancouver and even from our studio! Welcome to you all.
