We can learn a lot about natural movement from our ancestors and children. Something common to both groups is sitting on the ground. Our earliest ancestors did not have comfy recliners or chairs at desks. They were sitting on the ground, tree stumps, and fallen logs.
Children live with modern furniture but often prefer sitting, learning, and playing on the floor. Sitting on the ground is natural; it engages our muscles and encourages our bodies to move naturally.
When you were younger sitting on the floor probably felt natural and comfortable. However, after years of sitting at work or reclining at home, it may feel a bit uncomfortable. That is okay; most people can build muscles to make it feel natural again.
Let’s look at how floor sitting could work for you.
Move Without Trying
We all know that movement is important for our health. Many people join gyms, sign up for personal trailers, take a run, or work out at home. Others struggle to make time for exercise but try to move more. These things are good, but they aren’t enough. You can be a gym rat and still be pretty sedentary the rest of the day. Sitting on the ground is a great way to move more during sedentary time.
Time-Lapse Video
A time-lapse video of sitting on the couch for two hours would be pretty boring; there would not be much movement. Sitting on the floor would involve much more movement, engaging your core muscles in ways comfy furniture does not.
Sitting or lying on the couch is so “comfortable” that you can turn off your major muscle groups. Even when in a compromised position where joints are placed in unnatural ways, the comfy cushions allow these damaging positions to go unnoticed.
However, since sitting on the ground in one position can become slightly uncomfortable, your body will shift to find another position often. This leads to more movement and muscle engagement in “sedentary” times. The video would probably resemble a stretching session.
When Should You Sit on the Floor?
Sit on the floor during your normal activities: watching a movie, playing with kids, or working on your laptop. While I may not have time to spend an extra hour stretching at the gym, I can use the time I already spend playing with my girls or watching a show.
This is better than having a perfect ergonomic that makes us comfortable enough to disengage our muscles. We tend to move and take more breaks when we are less comfortable. (Honestly, I don’t believe there is any good way to sit at a desk for hours of computer work daily.)
What Position Should You Sit In?
You don’t need to pick a position. That is the beauty of this, you don’t stay in any one position for a long time when sitting on the ground. Rather, you sit in one position and move to another when you tire.
Here is an article by one of my favorite authors, Katy Bowman. It discusses floor sitting and contains graphs showing different sitting options. She embraced the idea so thoroughly, she no longer has furniture in her house! You do not need to go to that extreme to benefit from sitting on the floor.
What if You Can’t Sit on the Floor?
Sitting on the floor can be tough; if you have trouble start gradually. Try this progression and feel how your body is engaged. Listen to your body and move through a range of positions. Begin by sitting on a…
- harder chair
- chair with no back
- floor with some pillows around or under you
It is amazing how quickly you get used to sitting on the floor. Over time if you spend a significant amount of time sitting on the floor, you will notice improvements in your mobility and core strength. How you can work towards ditching the comfy furniture for just a little while.
Dr. Jamie
*If you would like to learn more, consider getting Katy Bowman's book Rethink Your Position.
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