How to Sit Balanced from Side to Side.

You’re sitting at the computer surfing the net, and for some reason you have come across this blog post.  And you may be wondering, “Balanced side to side really…What does that mean?”  And to your question (if indeed you are asking it) I would ask you, “Are your legs crossed?  Are you leaning on one elbow or the other?  Where is your mouse? What is your computer screen’s relationship to the keyboard? When you are thinking do you tilt your head?  Do you rotate the spine towards your office mate when she is speaking?”  The answers to these many questions, might let you know just how dominant one side of your body is, and they might bring certain imbalances and asymmetries to your conscious awareness.

But wait is symmetry what we are looking for? I have been teaching pilates and movement for so many years, and I have yet to see the perfectly balanced, symmetrical body that I spent so much time learning about…I also find it interesting that we ask our body to be symmetrical, yet our viscera (organs/guts) are not symmetrical at all.  So again what do I mean when I say, “How to sit balanced from side to side.”

Imagine this:  A person is at the computer for hours at a time.  As the body gets tired he starts to lean his left elbow on his armrest, which allows his ribcage to shift to the left.  This also means that there might be more weight in the left side of the pelvis.  Now what does his body do to counteract this shift of the ribcage?  He might tilt his head to the right, and he might also rotate his ribcage to the right just slightly (mostly to see the computer screen) and there might even be a little extra weight in the right foot.  Now imagine being in this position for a long time…What might happen? 

What can we do to prevent this kind of melting?  How can we find a balanced posture without stiffening?

First, when sitting, think about posture and weight distribution through out the entire body.  Distribute the weight evenly through the floor, and lengthen the head to the ceiling….and then every time you notice what might seem to be the inevitable melting (however it may manifest), redistribute the weight and reach your head to the ceiling again, and again, and yet again.

Secondly, add movement to your life at the desk.  Set a timer and every 45 minutes in your chair at your desk do the following workout.  Egg timers that are really loud work the best!  And every time your egg timer rings find this video, and move in your chair.

What do you notice?  Does the melting happen less?  Does your spine feel better?  We want to know…How do you feel?

Katrina Hawley C.M.A, PMA-CPT

Director of Instruction at The Pilates Studio