Active Sitting – Exercise and Sit Down at the Same Time!

More and more workplaces are exchanging their traditional office chairs with so-called active sitting chairs. By using an ergonomic Pilates stool, balance chair or saddle chair, you can activate your core and back muscles which improves your posture. If you are looking for a new work chair an active chair is a great choice!

Active chairs have many health benefits. Your posture improves as your core becomes stronger and gives you a straighter sitting position. When the deep muscles start to work, your energy and calorie consumption as well as your blood circulation increases, which enables you to think more clearly and become more productive.

The muscles are also activated in a natural way that is similar to when we run, cycle or go kayaking. An active chair also relieves back pain since the tension in the back that is caused by a poor sitting position is released. Your body can become stronger just by sitting on a chair!

Chairs that activate the body

Balance chair – On a balance chair, you use the body muscles to achieve a good seating posture. The chairs built- in movement and instability forces the body to concentrate to sit properly which activates both the core and back muscle groups. Many people that have back pain report that their pain is minimized when using a balance chair regularly.

Pilates stool - The Pilates stool is another popular alternative that activates the body. The chair has an air-filled seat that resembles a Pilates ball which has extra instability and causes the body to concentrate to sit straight. The result is a more natural seating position, better posture and a workout for the muscles around the core while you sit and work.

Saddle chairs – On a saddle chair you sit in the so-called ‘equestrian position’. The saddle chair encourages an upright sitting posture and makes it difficult to slouch. The chair minimizes tension in the shoulder muscles, prevents problems with knees, hips and shoulders, improves circulation in the legs, as well as giving greater freedom of movement and makes it easier to achieve a good posture.

Small changes, big difference - Keep in mind that an active seat should only be used for one hour a day at first until the body gets used to the new seating position. It is common to feel the chair's effect directly in the form of muscle soreness.

Use the active chair as a supplement to your ordinary ergonomic office chair at first. After a while you can use the active chair more and more.