Want to Feel Less Stiff and Move Better? ....Sit on the Floor!

For most of us, as we get older, the thought of sitting down on the floor seems like an effort. And for some of us the question arises….will I be able to get back up? And for a few, the answer is “No, I won’t be able to get back up without help”.   How did this happen?    And when did it happen?

We all started out living on the floor.   The floor was our home.    We sat, we crawled, we scooted, we ate, we played on the floor.   We spent hours on the floor. Perfectly comfortable.

Then we get a little older and we start going to school. We fidget in a chair all day. But we still have recess, and then outside with our friends after school running, playing, climbing. And we still feel great. We don’t wake up with sore backs, tight hips, stiff necks. (This may not be as true for today’s younger generation with the video games, but if you were born before approximately 2005, this is generally true!)

Fast forward to college, “real world jobs”, parenting, etc. and all of a sudden our day consists of sleeping, driving, sitting at a desk or up on our feet all day, chauffeuring kids, cleaning, laundry, sleep and repeat. Maybe get a walk or a little exercise in, but do we make time to stretch or are we “just too busy” for that?

Gradually we find ourselves getting stiffer….that pull in your back bending over to empty the dishwasher, that twinge in your neck when you turn your head too quickly, that pain in your shoulder reaching back to put your seat belt on, that tightness in your lower leg after wearing those new heels to a party. How did this happen and what can I do about it?

Simple Solution
GET ON THE FLOOR!!

Go back to all those positions you would sit in as a toddler playing and spend a little time improving your mobility. Take one 30 minute TV show, or even start with just during the commercials, and spend time on the floor in the following positions:

At first this will probably be very uncomfortable. But I promise it will get easier over time. And if you are worried you won’t be able to get up, get on the floor next to the couch and use the couch to push yourself up.   Soon you will be standing up a little straighter and find yourself less stiff as you move through your day!