Is sitting up a good idea?
Yes, if you can do it. No if doing it is a strain.
Slumping
What is better for a person who, though normally active, sits slumped: To continue as he is or to force himself to sit straight?
If he continues as he is, he will get progressively more and more slumped and eventually develop back pain. Not good — but at least he’s still able to do whatever he is able to do. What about the obvious alternative?
The obvious alternative
The obvious alternative is to make the effort to pull himself up and sit straight. If he does this, he is likely to look better but he will inevitably be stiffer. While he’s making the effort he will become stiffer, less mobile and even less alert. Of course, if you believe in sitting up straight, you won’t believe what I just said. If that’s you, here’s a challenge for you: make a point of watching people closely after you’ve asked them to sit up. (Let me know if you don’t see what I see).
Becoming stiffer, less mobile and less alert is a poor reward for making the effort to sit up straight. Worse still, if he is needled often enough that he keeps renewing his effort to sit up straight, he will get used to his more limited mobility and develop back pain even more quickly. It seems he’s stuck between a rock and a hard place.
The third choice
Is there a third, better alternative? Sure there is. The alternative is to learn how to stop pulling himself down:-
Stiff posture is bad posture
The truth about posture
Four reasons for NOT sitting up
Posture that works
Next: Gnarled oak or creaking gate?
Further Resources
Here are some ways I can help you further.
Wherever you live
- If you’re not already getting my free weekly article delivered to your inbox, then
go here to get it.
(It’s free)
When you subscribe you also get to download “The Hows & Whys of Semi-Supine”. This free e-booklet is indispensable to anyone serious about strengthening their bad back (or further strengthening an already-strong back). - Repoise is our membership site for people who are serious about improving themselves (and getting out of pain as they do that).
When you join, you will:–
- Have daily access to me. Together we will work out what’s going wrong for you and how to fix it
- Learn from reading other Repoise members’ questions and following their progress as they work with me
- I’m writing a book about my work. It will come out on the 1st December 2010. If you're getting the free weekly articles, I'll send out more details about the up-coming book as soon as the information is available.
If you’re in Liverpool (or can get to Liverpool)
- I’m also running Friday lunchtime group lessons. Go here for details.
- There’s nothing better than individual lessons. Ring me on 0151 708 6172 to talk to me about booking individual lessons. (Leave your number so I can get back to you).
If you’re further away and can’t get to Liverpool
- There’s still nothing better than individual lessons. Here’s where you can find a teacher near you in the UK or elsewhere
- I suggest you also do the things I listed above for everyone:–
- Read my weekly articles
- Get direct day-to-day guidance from me by joining Repoise.
Next: Gnarled oak or creaking gate?
Well, where I am coming from is for me, my slouching was not me being pulled down, it was my back muscles being lazy and weak and not wanting to hold myself up.
I apologize for being one of the people that believe in sitting up straight because I think that when you sit up straight you are stretching your front so it doesn’t pull you down (if that is the issue), and you are exercising your back muscles and engaging your abs so they become strong and then none of it is “forcing” or “straining” or being “stiff”. I think one can learn to sit up straight and be completely comfortable, relaxed, and at ease.
I know there are a lot of people that have “issues” that might keep them from sitting up and strengthening their “sit up straight” muscles, but I am thinking about the average person. Not an extremely unhealthy person.
I am still learning about blogging, so thank you for your “for one particular person”. I will probably get there. I am just working my way around, to, and from things.
Hi Terre,
There’s really no need to apologise for anything. I just wanted to help you recognise that where you’re at is not helpful for everyone.
On Wednesday, I wrote an article for my newsletter that I think (hope) you might find helpful. It’s just gone up on my website: Why core strength fitness trainers don’t provide the goods (and what they can do to correct that).
I will read you article when I have a moment to find it (or if I can get the link to work). But I wanted to comment quickly before I go off to dinner.
I don’t think that there is one thing that is helpful for everyone. EVERY BODY is different and each body, might need something else. But I do believe in standing and sitting up straight, because I believe that is what the body was designed to do. But it could mean that people need to be fix or adjusted before they are able to do so. And, of course not everyBODY is able to be fixed or adjusted to the original design.
I look forward to reading your article.
Sorry about the link, Terre. It’s fixed now