Want to Get in Shape While Sitting Down? Read On !
I have worked in New York city for years, and recently, I noticed more and more folks have replaced their regular office chairs with a gym ball of all things. You have to admit it's a bit beyond hilarious but after checking it out on the web, it turns out it's a good thing for you.
This applies to whether you are at the office or working at home in the basement, these balance ball chairs are god-send for your aching backs. Here are some of the benefits of using an exercise ball as your chair.
1. Your spine is forced to align properly. Because an exercise ball is not stable, your body needs to try to balance itself on it. The perfect spinal posture is coincidentally the easiest to balance with. It's almost automatic that your body will align itself to get into proper posture. This helps improve your spinal health, and decrease back pains.
2. Causes you to frequently change positions. This is because you are always trying to balance yourself. For example, if you turn to face the phone, your body will assume a new position. The more you shift, the less damage your body incurs due to prolonged sitting in same pose.
3. Fitness is at your fingertips. A great thing about using this alternative to a chair, is that you can do stretches or mini-workouts whenever you want, without getting up. Anytime you get bored, just do a quickie exercise. Because it's much more convenient, you will probably do it more, thus resulting in better health.
4. Your sense of balance will be improved. This one is very understandable. This is because you continuously try not to fall, in effect, improving your balance and strengthening your muscles. You can feel results right away in terms of having a much better overall sense of balance as you move around.
5. Get that 6-pack abs you have always wanted. As you balance yourself while you are sitting on the ball, your abdominal muscles are the ones working the hardest to maintain your balance. Thus, you are essentially getting a low-key abdominal workout. This might not sound like a big deal but when you count the hours you spend sitting at your desk or in front of the computer, the numbers start to count. These hours pile up and before you know it, you start developing that 6-pack abs.
6. Improves your circulation. Using an exercise ball will keep the blood flowing to all parts of your body, throughout the day. A regular chair works exactly the opposite, constricting circulation, especially after you have been sitting for hours.
7. You will feel more energetic. It's a fact that if you stay in just one position for prolonged periods, it's guaranteed you will feel more exhausted by the end of the day, as compared to constantly moving around and feeling more energetic as a result. With an exercise ball as a chair, you will feel much more energized after you finish your work.
8. Burn calories as you sit! More movement during the day means more calories burnt. If you burn at least 350 calories per day, you can lose at least a pound of fat every couple of weeks. You may not burn quite 350, but nonetheless, it will help you stay fit.
9. Extremely affordable. Specialized exercise balls designed for sitting usage can range from $20 to $90. Much cheaper than buying an ergonomic chair, which can range anywhere from $100 to $400 and up.
10. Hey, its fun! Who doesn't like the idea of bouncing around on an exercise ball all day. Work is generally boring, so anything that will relieve it while keeping you in shape, is definitely welcome.
About the Author
Beth is a bored retiree who is also into web marketing, promoting a really varied collection of web sites. If you are looking for a place with the best selection and pricing in jogging strollers or if you are looking for the latest toy transformers for the kids, come and visit her sites.