Humans or gorillas?
Imagine that you are a primal human, hunting and gathering food for hours a day, only stopping to eat and sleep. Today, we are a sedentary culture, sitting eight to ten hours per day in front of screens for work and recreation, rarely changing positions or taking breaks.
In an article in Science magazine a few years ago on why Homo sapiens need aerobic exercise, it was discovered that our hunter gatherer ancestors ran for eight to ten hours per day hunting, before resting and then starting over again. The article compared us to gorillas who, once they discovered a grove of banana trees, parked themselves there without moving for the rest of their lives. Are we humans or gorillas?
Humans are designed to heal…
I believe that the back pain, shoulder and neck issues and even the diseases of our time – the umbrella of autoimmune issues – cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular disease and all the dementias – can be healed by utilizing healthy lifestyle habits – what we eat, how we sleep, how we move, how we manage our stress and how we use our bodies every day. If these modern conditions are a result of our Hunter/Gatherer bodies not adapting to the habits of modern life, it’s time to pay attention and change.
We are designed to heal, moving toward good posture, when we sit and stand, prepare food, read, write, do laundry and prepare for sleep. As we move through our daily activities and rituals, if we want great health – energy, focus, longevity – we must create the patterns that will allow our organs, joints and especially, our brains to function optimally. In my view, it is worth learning how to move well so that the spine and other joints can stay healthy in the bodies we have. When we move as our bodies are designed to do, the joints and organ systems function efficiently, wasting less energy, extending the years and quality of our lives.
We are meant to move…
The newest research discourages long periods of sitting and, even when working, it is best to stand and change positions as much as possible. Things like changing to a standing desk throughout the day, using a kneeling chair and, if possible, creating a work space sitting cross legged on the ground in front of a low table are all good ways to accommodate how we work so that we are changing positions frequently. Designing work areas that allow for different work options is the best way to stay healthy and comfortable while working. Symptoms like low back pain, numbness, tingling in the extremities and drop foot can be caused by too many hours of sitting or standing improperly without moving. Moving every twenty minutes or so (set an alarm) can make an enormous difference; we are meant to move, not sit for hours at a time.
If you must sit, stay light as a feather…
When you sit (or stand) you should feel nothing – as light as a feather – and this lightness creates length giving you energy so that you can focus on what you are doing. There is less joint compression when sitting with awareness of good biomechanics; it creates better circulation, organ function and the ability to breathe deeply. It allows the muscles of the back to lengthen, without being pulled and challenged by the short and strong muscles in the front of the body. Whichever True Sitting posture you use, remember to keep an anteverted (forward tipping) pelvis between the sacrum and L5 and a long beautiful spine above that. Cultures from all over the world who have strong bodies with no back pain practice these ways of sitting.
True Sitting #1, Sitting Back:
This one works well with a solid chair that has adjustable arms and, if possible, a head rest…
True Sitting #2, Sitting at the Edge:
Sitting at the edge of a chair makes it easier and more efficient to stand from a seated position, or sit from standing. Remember to use your strong legs and core muscles to sit and stand, rather than “helping” yourself with your hands and shoulders when changing positions.
Coming close to the edge of the chair is a great position to use when preparing to stand. Some people also enjoy the stability of this position, especially if the chair used isn’t well balanced. When preparing to stand, avoid using your hands to press into your thighs; instead, press into feet, bend forward from hips and use the strength of legs to stand.
To use this position to work:
This little book is a Mindfulness Retreat in book form lead by Buddhist teacher Sylvia Boorstein. The idea is to be in Retreat at home, without having to travel; especially now, as the world has been locked down in pandemic mode, we can imagine being in a monastic setting, meditating with others without speaking. Boorstein takes us through sitting and walking meditations, Metta meditation (wishing others happiness, peace and good health) along with Buddhist stories, answering questions and Eating Instructions….
Showing us that we don’t have to sit to meditate, the goal might be, instead, to be in constant Mindfulness, watching the activity of the mind throughout our days.
May you be happy
May you be peaceful
May you be well
May you live with ease…
