With the work from home setup, many of you, have for sure gotten a personal office chair. It makes sense, you can’t possibly accomplish long hours of work comfortably using the dining chair, the sofa, or even the comfiest seat in your house – the bed. And initially, the chair has given you the relief you needed, but after a few weeks, have you noticed that your back still aches?
Sometimes, it’s not just your back that hurts, but your whole body as well. You might be thinking that your $400 office chair should be solving your body pains due to sitting, but guess what? Using an office chair is beneficial, but not the only key to feeling comfort while working.
Sitting for extremely long hours without standing up and moving can have short and long-term effects on your health and body. It can range from weak legs and glutes, tight hips and painful lower back, stiff neck and shoulders to weight gain and even anxiety and depression.
When you sit, it’s normal that you don’t notice yourself slouching or hunching. These are the main culprits of your back pain. To maintain a good posture, you have to engage the core, and what’s a better way to do that but to force yourself by using a yoga ball as a chair?
A yoga ball is thought to activate all your postural muscles — the deep muscles in your abdomen, pelvis, and back — which hold you together and ensure proper posture. I, myself, had experienced terrible back pains that made me feel uncomfortable all throughout the working day.
Even after working a few short hours, the pain is still there preventing me from enjoying the time left from my day. Fortunately, I have Lani as my best friend who made me realize that my back pains were from sitting all day in my office chair. She recommended that I use a yoga ball as an alternative chair for a few hours each day and a few days later – the pain is gone.
1. Size
When you buy a yoga ball, you have to consider the size that fits right for your body. You need a ball that will allow you to have your feet flat on the floor and your hips bent to 90 degrees or more. It will be uncomfortable to use a small ball because your knees will be sitting higher than your hips.
2. Time
As much as sitting on the ball feels refreshing and different from sitting on an office chair, you shouldn’t use it for more than two hours. Your muscles will become fatigued and you may start to slouch and end up feeling sore in your middle back and lower back.
3. Inflation
Pump your ball enough so it’s stable and you don’t sink into it because that would be much more uncomfortable.
4. Workstation
If you’re considering using the yoga ball as an alternative to an office chair for an hour or so, you have to adjust your workstation as well. The height of your screen and table makes a difference and will help you maintain a proper posture.
After reading these, you can now grab a notepad and start browsing different yoga balls online. Weigh the pros and cons of each brand and be prepared to be amazed by the difference of using a yoga ball regularly.
And if you’re open to recommendations, >> here’s a link to the yoga ball that I currently use<<
Share your stories and experiences with us. Let’s all enjoy the year with a healthier lifestyle!
*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. This article has not been medically reviewed. We recommend that you talk with your doctor as this is not personal medical advice.
