Sitting on the Floor

As I type, I am sitting here—on the floor. Those of you who know me have probably seen me nerd about mobility and fitness stuff. This week’s Good Leaven Letter is an example of this. It may seem simple, but sitting on the ground has a whole host of benefits: it improves posture, it opens up your hips, adds movement to your day, and more. One predictor of longevity is whether or not you are able to get up from the floor without the use of your hands. Sitting on the floor regularly is one way to maintain the strength and flexibility needed to do so. 

The opposite is also true. Sitting in a chair in one position for long hours at a time leads to all sorts of health risks. Some say that sitting is the new smoking. 

This week, I invite you to examine your habits around movement:

If I filmed my day, what would it show about my movement? How much do I sit in a chair? How much do I move around? (Standing more or spending time in a deep squat are other ways to incorporate more movement.) What would need to change for me to have more dynamic movement in my day?

A quick note: If you decide to practice sitting on the floor more, do some quick research about how to vary your position and gradually improve. This video is a good start. 

God bless,
Dan