Can sitting on a ball chair be better for productivity, energy and focus than regular desk chairs? A ball chair combines the benefits of an exercise ball with the function of an ergonomic desk chair. Exercise ball chairs reduce stress in the body by promoting "active sitting" rather than the slumping and poor posture (that may lead to back pain for some) that is often associated with sitting in desk chairs for prolonged periods of time. Ball chairs are said to release pressure on the spine, strengthen the core muscles, encourage the natural alignment of the spine, and promote circulation.
Abstracts on PubMed [note bolded parts in the below abstracts are put in by me]:
1: Am J Occup Ther. 2003 Sep-Oct;57(5):534-41.
Links
Classroom seating for children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: therapy balls versus chairs.
Schilling DL, Washington K, Billingsley FF, Deitz J.
Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA. missdeesg@aol.com
OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of therapy balls as seating on in-seat behavior and legible word productivity of students with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Additionally, social validity was assessed to evaluate teacher and student opinions regarding the intervention. METHOD: A single subject, A-B-A-B interrupted time series design was employed across 3 students (2 males, 1 female) with ADHD. The study was conducted in a 4th grade inclusive classroom during daily language arts. During phases 1 and 3, the 3 participants and all other class members sat on chairs (in-seat on chair); during phases 2 and 4, everyone sat on therapy balls (in-seat on ball). Dependent variables were in-seat behavior and legible word productivity. Data were graphed and visually analyzed for differences between phases. RESULTS: Results demonstrated increases in in-seat behavior and legible word productivity for the students with ADHD when seated on therapy balls. Social validity findings indicated that generally the teacher and students preferred therapy balls. CONCLUSION: This study provides evidence that use of therapy balls for students with ADHD may facilitate in-seat behavior and legible word productivity.
PMID: 14527115 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
1: Eur J Appl Physiol. 2008 Jun;103(3):353-60. Epub 2008 Mar 20.
Links
Increasing passive energy expenditure during clerical work.
Beers EA, Roemmich JN, Epstein LH, Horvath PJ.
Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, State University of New York at Buffalo, Farber Hall, Room G56, 3435 Main Street, Building #26, Buffalo, NY 14214-3000, USA.
Sitting on a therapy ball or standing may be a passive means of increasing energy expenditure throughout the workday. The purpose of this study was to determine the energy expenditure and liking of performing clerical work in various postures. Subjects included 24 men and women employed in sedentary clerical occupations. Energy expenditure was measured while word processing in three standardized postures; sitting in an office chair, sitting on a therapy ball, and standing. Adults ranked their comfort, fatigue, and liking of each posture and were asked to perform their choice of 20 min of additional clerical work in one of the postures. Energy expenditure was 4.1 kcal/h greater (por= 0.48). Subjects also liked sitting on a therapy ball as much as sitting in an office chair and liked sitting on a therapy ball more than standing (p More subjects chose to perform additional clerical work while seated on a therapy ball than while standing (p = 0.03). In conclusion, sitting on a therapy ball or standing rather than sitting in an office chair while performing clerical work increases passive energy expenditure.
PMID: 18351381 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
Reviews mainly from amazon.com [note bolded parts in the below reviews/testimonial are put in by me; also a disclaimer that applies to any ‘review’ or ‘testimonial’ on public sites like this – always view them with a healthy dose of skepticism]:
http://www.amazon.com/review/RJ3OL0ZF66A4K/ref=cm_srch_res_rtr_alt_4
Review Details
Item
Gaiam Balance Ball Chair (Black)
Customer Review
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
Fabulous Fun chair, March 20, 2006
By
Ms. Toni Federici "Photographer"
This chair is a backsaver! I bought it because I had been sitting on a hard wooden stool. I would find myself stooped over when I was really concentrating on work. My back would get stiff and sore and my posture was horrible. I bought this chair and it is so comfortable it takes the pressure off my lower back and I don't hunch over anymore. I find myself more energized because my body doesn't need to recover after sitting for long periods of time. Also if I find myself needing a little extra energy, I bounce, and its fun. It took a bit of time (like maybe 5 minutes) to get used to. I really have to be conscience of how I sit down, I can't mindlessly plop down, I might miss and hit the floor. One beware: if you have kids, I have 4, you may need to make a "hands off Mom or Dad's chair" rule because it is very popular with them too, a ball chair on wheels how can anyone resist! Even my friends say what is that, can I try it? Everyone loves it.
http://www.amazon.com/review/R2KX6GJ8RW2XQI/ref=cm_srch_res_rtr_alt_8
Review Details
Item
Ironman 65cm Deluxe Stability Ball (Charcoal)
Customer Review
5 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
good for office work, November 10, 2006
By
nelga "recreational reader"
I bought this ball as an alternative to a regular office chair. I am able to work on my abdominal muscles while surfing the web, or other computer work. It helps me to stay focused on the work and not get frustrated with not being able to move around. It is exactly what I was looking for.
http://www.amazon.com/review/R2MTHAAZ4BZMXU/ref=cm_srch_res_rtr_alt_5
Review Details
Item
Isokinetics Balance Ball Chair - with Pearl 52cm Ball and a Pump
Customer Review
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
A great chair, May 5, 2008
By
Elizabeth Johnson
This ball chair was purchased for my grandson.He has ADHD. It's a great chair for someone who can't sit still and needs balance.
http://www.amazon.com/review/RZL70JMYV7L7M/ref=cm_srch_res_rtr_alt_4
Review Details
Item
FitBALL® Chair (Exercise Ball Chair)
Customer Review
YOU NEED A YOGA BALL CHAIR!, May 6, 2008
By
Sarah G. Becker MKG LLC
Our entire office now sits on these ball chairs. Productivity and moral are up! I've had one for years - very good for your back and neck because you shift around on the ball and you don't sit in the same place too long. Get one (or more!) today!!! ~ Sarah Gallo Becker
http://www.amazon.com/review/R1YVTERQTRFZZO/ref=cm_srch_res_rtr_alt_28
Review Details
Item
Isokinetics Balance Ball Chair - with Red 52cm Ball and a Pump
Customer Review
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
great chair!, June 13, 2008
By
Pitbull mama
Great price and you can't beat free shipping! Easy to put together, good quality and very comfortable. My son uses it while doing homework and can "bounce" when needed (helps with concentration). Great for core body strength. I plan to buy one for work.
http://www.ballchair.com/testimonials.asp
"As a practicing physician, I find my ability to concentrate and focus is enhanced when I sit on this unique chair."Howard Schwartz, MD
"Playing violin while on the Sit-a-Round, releases pressure from the back, allowing me to use the muscles of the back for the playing process. The sound changes totally and the comfort in technical passages is amazing."Benzion Shamir, 2nd Concertmaster, Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra
Interesting information and article (by Michael Winn) from a site selling a particular ball chair (Healing Tao USA Qigong Center selling the Sit-A-Round™ ball chair) is pasted in below. Apart from the productivity and energy benefits of the chairs already mentioned in the above studies and reviews, the information below focuses quite a lot on the utility of this particular chair for feeling more sexually energized, creative, and generally facilitating the flow of chi (life energy) [note bolded parts below are put in by me; again a disclaimer that applies to any advertisement – always view them with a healthy dose of skepticism]:
Abstracts on PubMed [note bolded parts in the below abstracts are put in by me]:
1: Am J Occup Ther. 2003 Sep-Oct;57(5):534-41.
Links
Classroom seating for children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: therapy balls versus chairs.
Schilling DL, Washington K, Billingsley FF, Deitz J.
Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA. missdeesg@aol.com
OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of therapy balls as seating on in-seat behavior and legible word productivity of students with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Additionally, social validity was assessed to evaluate teacher and student opinions regarding the intervention. METHOD: A single subject, A-B-A-B interrupted time series design was employed across 3 students (2 males, 1 female) with ADHD. The study was conducted in a 4th grade inclusive classroom during daily language arts. During phases 1 and 3, the 3 participants and all other class members sat on chairs (in-seat on chair); during phases 2 and 4, everyone sat on therapy balls (in-seat on ball). Dependent variables were in-seat behavior and legible word productivity. Data were graphed and visually analyzed for differences between phases. RESULTS: Results demonstrated increases in in-seat behavior and legible word productivity for the students with ADHD when seated on therapy balls. Social validity findings indicated that generally the teacher and students preferred therapy balls. CONCLUSION: This study provides evidence that use of therapy balls for students with ADHD may facilitate in-seat behavior and legible word productivity.
PMID: 14527115 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
1: Eur J Appl Physiol. 2008 Jun;103(3):353-60. Epub 2008 Mar 20.
Links
Increasing passive energy expenditure during clerical work.
Beers EA, Roemmich JN, Epstein LH, Horvath PJ.
Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, State University of New York at Buffalo, Farber Hall, Room G56, 3435 Main Street, Building #26, Buffalo, NY 14214-3000, USA.
Sitting on a therapy ball or standing may be a passive means of increasing energy expenditure throughout the workday. The purpose of this study was to determine the energy expenditure and liking of performing clerical work in various postures. Subjects included 24 men and women employed in sedentary clerical occupations. Energy expenditure was measured while word processing in three standardized postures; sitting in an office chair, sitting on a therapy ball, and standing. Adults ranked their comfort, fatigue, and liking of each posture and were asked to perform their choice of 20 min of additional clerical work in one of the postures. Energy expenditure was 4.1 kcal/h greater (p
PMID: 18351381 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
Reviews mainly from amazon.com [note bolded parts in the below reviews/testimonial are put in by me; also a disclaimer that applies to any ‘review’ or ‘testimonial’ on public sites like this – always view them with a healthy dose of skepticism]:
http://www.amazon.com/review/RJ3OL0ZF66A4K/ref=cm_srch_res_rtr_alt_4
Review Details
Item
Gaiam Balance Ball Chair (Black)
Customer Review
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
Fabulous Fun chair, March 20, 2006
By
Ms. Toni Federici "Photographer"
This chair is a backsaver! I bought it because I had been sitting on a hard wooden stool. I would find myself stooped over when I was really concentrating on work. My back would get stiff and sore and my posture was horrible. I bought this chair and it is so comfortable it takes the pressure off my lower back and I don't hunch over anymore. I find myself more energized because my body doesn't need to recover after sitting for long periods of time. Also if I find myself needing a little extra energy, I bounce, and its fun. It took a bit of time (like maybe 5 minutes) to get used to. I really have to be conscience of how I sit down, I can't mindlessly plop down, I might miss and hit the floor. One beware: if you have kids, I have 4, you may need to make a "hands off Mom or Dad's chair" rule because it is very popular with them too, a ball chair on wheels how can anyone resist! Even my friends say what is that, can I try it? Everyone loves it.
http://www.amazon.com/review/R2KX6GJ8RW2XQI/ref=cm_srch_res_rtr_alt_8
Review Details
Item
Ironman 65cm Deluxe Stability Ball (Charcoal)
Customer Review
5 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
good for office work, November 10, 2006
By
nelga "recreational reader"
I bought this ball as an alternative to a regular office chair. I am able to work on my abdominal muscles while surfing the web, or other computer work. It helps me to stay focused on the work and not get frustrated with not being able to move around. It is exactly what I was looking for.
http://www.amazon.com/review/R2MTHAAZ4BZMXU/ref=cm_srch_res_rtr_alt_5
Review Details
Item
Isokinetics Balance Ball Chair - with Pearl 52cm Ball and a Pump
Customer Review
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
A great chair, May 5, 2008
By
Elizabeth Johnson
This ball chair was purchased for my grandson.He has ADHD. It's a great chair for someone who can't sit still and needs balance.
http://www.amazon.com/review/RZL70JMYV7L7M/ref=cm_srch_res_rtr_alt_4
Review Details
Item
FitBALL® Chair (Exercise Ball Chair)
Customer Review
YOU NEED A YOGA BALL CHAIR!, May 6, 2008
By
Sarah G. Becker MKG LLC
Our entire office now sits on these ball chairs. Productivity and moral are up! I've had one for years - very good for your back and neck because you shift around on the ball and you don't sit in the same place too long. Get one (or more!) today!!! ~ Sarah Gallo Becker
http://www.amazon.com/review/R1YVTERQTRFZZO/ref=cm_srch_res_rtr_alt_28
Review Details
Item
Isokinetics Balance Ball Chair - with Red 52cm Ball and a Pump
Customer Review
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
great chair!, June 13, 2008
By
Pitbull mama
Great price and you can't beat free shipping! Easy to put together, good quality and very comfortable. My son uses it while doing homework and can "bounce" when needed (helps with concentration). Great for core body strength. I plan to buy one for work.
http://www.ballchair.com/testimonials.asp
"As a practicing physician, I find my ability to concentrate and focus is enhanced when I sit on this unique chair."Howard Schwartz, MD
"Playing violin while on the Sit-a-Round, releases pressure from the back, allowing me to use the muscles of the back for the playing process. The sound changes totally and the comfort in technical passages is amazing."Benzion Shamir, 2nd Concertmaster, Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra
Interesting information and article (by Michael Winn) from a site selling a particular ball chair (Healing Tao USA Qigong Center selling the Sit-A-Round™ ball chair) is pasted in below. Apart from the productivity and energy benefits of the chairs already mentioned in the above studies and reviews, the information below focuses quite a lot on the utility of this particular chair for feeling more sexually energized, creative, and generally facilitating the flow of chi (life energy) [note bolded parts below are put in by me; again a disclaimer that applies to any advertisement – always view them with a healthy dose of skepticism]:
http://www.healingdao.com/ballchair_benefits.html
Benefits
Helps Reduce Body Stress By:
Releasing spinal pressure
Strengthening muscles
Encouraging spinal alignment
Increasing circulation and energy
A Great Solution to a Persistent Problem
The Sit-A-Round™ ball chair supports the weight of the pelvis and facilitates the proper use of the sit bones, encouraging an easeful distribution of weight. The inflated vinyl ball seat sends a continual subtle message to "move up" which keeps the spine from slumping in a C curve. The ball responds individually to the weight and body movement of each user. Tension is released throughout the shoulders and back. This is an ideal chair for people whose work involves long periods of sitting as well as for those who have injured their backs.
How The Sit-A-Round™ Benefits The Sitter
Uses the principle of active sitting. Sitting on a moveable surface requires the active use of the legs and torso.
Keeps the spine uncompressed.
Encourages one to sit up without tensing every muscle in the body.
Helps prevent back injuries prevalent in the increasingly stationary work force. It is in fact a muscle-toning device.
Overcomes some of the circulation and muscle fatigue associated with sedentary work. **
Helps keep the mind alert.**
Eliminates a back rest, balancing the muscular work between the front and back of the spine, thus promoting torso strength. ****
”The Chair: Rethinking Culture, Body and Design”, Galen Cranz W.W. Norton, 1998 (www.amazon.com)
http://www.healingtaousa.com/ballchair.html
The Tai Chi Dynamic-Sit Sexy Ball Chair?
YES!Anyone can now practice Tai Chiwhile sitting on their ass!
It’s fun!It’s a revolution in sitting technology.It’s great for your spine!Your pelvis & buttocks will love it.It’s elegant.It feels SEXY.Are you ready to have an Ergo-Orgasm?
“Wow! This chair is fun. I'm getting more flexible, and my qigong is getting more graceful. I pretend I'm belly dancing all day while working. It's only been a month, but I've noticed my derriere, abs and thigh muscles seem to be getting stronger - all from from "playing" while working. How can anyone ever go back to sitting with frozen spines after feeling this good? It also keeps me focused - I think it might cure Attention Deficit in kids.”- Nancy Baumgarten, Office Manager, Healing Tao USA
The chair has been wonderful. Having had a back injury for many years, I've always had trouble finding a comfortable position to meditate in. The ergo chair keeps my spine perfectly aligned, which supports my old injury and allows chi to flow more easily throughout my entire system. It's a simple chair, but it has significantly improved the quality of my meditations.
-Alex in Ohio
“I’ve dedicated my life to sculpting clay and other creative arts. When Michael Winn introduced me to chi kung, it started a revolution in my artistic process. I learned to "energetically sculpt" my body, my art, and my life. I'm in my 70's, but feel young and vigorous. When I sat on June Ekman’s ergo ball chair, it started a second revolution. Now I love sitting on my ball chair – doing creative art, using it for meditation, or just to have fun! I feel my chi process is continuous and even more powerful, whether I am sitting or standing.”
- Paulus Berenson, author, Finding One’s Way With Clay
Photos & Testimonials from health pros & other users
Ten Good Reasons to Buy this Ergo Chair
…
• Heals low back, grows a flexible spine.
• Feel more sexually energized and creative.
• Great classy gift for yourself or others.
• Elegant design enhances any office or home.
• Save thousands in future doctor/chiropractor bills.
• Have fun getting more work done!
…
Why I Love MyTai Chi Dynamic-Sit Sexy Ball Chair
Dear Seekers of Healthy Bodies and Virtuous Minds,
I would like to share a secret with you.
My name is Michael Winn. I have noticed over three decades of teaching the arts of body movement and meditation that many people make fast progress in improving their body's physical and energetic structure with tai chi, qigong (chi kung), yoga, and other great body-mind exercise systems.
But after getting all relaxed and tuned up, people go to their office or home. They slump into a chair, in deep body-unconsciousness, while staring at their computer. How do I know this to be true? To be honest, my wife Joyce Gayheart pointed it out to me. Joyce is a certified Alexander, Feldenkrais, Authentic Movement, and Healing Tao instructor of tai chi and qigong. She is a teacher’s teacher, trained in just about every kind of therapeutic movement art ever invented.
Yes, Joyce pointed out that I was slouching over my computer, and that it was probably draining my energy. It was hard to deny. I was the guilty party. I was doing this wicked thing to my own poor body - inflicting unnecessary stress on my spine while staring at my computer screen. I wasn’t the hunchback of Notre Dame – it was a more subtle collapse. But once I noticed it, I had to ask myself the hard question. Why would I do such a thing to my body? Especially after spending all my time teaching other people the secrets of body structure and easy chi flow?
Why Back Problems are Widespread
Answer #1: Bad Sitting Habits that I hadn't trained myself to let go of.
Answer #2: Bad chairs that supported my bad habits.
I suppose I can claim expertise in this field. I have spent thousands of dollars over the years trying out different office chairs claiming ergonomic superiority. Most of them were in fact great improvements over the basic office chair, but they all had drawbacks. The Balans chair (remember that one from Scandanavia?) hurt your knees after a while, and you couldn't turn. Another one had a split back that let me turn to the side easily, but didn't relieve compression in the spine.
This is a serious issue, as back pain & spine problems is the number one health complaint among modern office slaves, which includes nearly everybody who has a home office. The spine is the primary physical structural support of the body. It also stabilizes the core energy channel in the center of our body, thus is essential to whole-body/mind enlightenment.
So it is not a superficial issue on any level. Spinal health and flexibility is essential to well-being, and to maintaining strong energy flow. One of my Chinese teachers used to say repeatedly in his simple English: “Flexible spine is young spine!”. Translation: steady chi flow up the spine is the secret of eternally feeling young.
Relief is on its way. I have been road-testing for more than a year a new chair designed by a friend of mine, June Ekman. June is an Alexander teacher, dancer and choreographer at Sarah Lawrence college in New York. Joyce and I met June while studying with Marjorie Barstow. Marge was a delightful and youthful being in her 90's. She was also at the time the only living student of F. M. Alexander, the founder of the Alexander Method.
I consider Alexander an intuitive tai chi/qigong master. I would not be surprised if some aspect of Alexander’s soul had re-incarnated from China. If Alexander had actually received qigong or tai chi training in his lifetime, I am sure he would have pushed his wonderful discoveries even further.
Marge, Posture & the Tao of Alexander Work
Marge was also an unnamed Tao-ist in all ways: her goal was to discover the most effortless way to live in each moment, both in thought and in physical movement. She would float through a room, yet still be grounded, unlike most 90 year old folks. She could spot tension a mile away, and dissolve it with a light touch of her finger, like a fairy godmother waving her wand. She effortlessly moved on to other dimensions a few years ago. The Chinese would consider her a human immortal - someone who lives long enough to fulfill their destiny.
Marge's work was seminal in inspiring June to solve the problem of stressful sitting. Like myself, June loved the large, lively colored rubber Swiss gymnastic balls as an exercise tool for playing with body flexibility. I had even tried to use my exercise gym ball as an office chair, but found the big size ball too awkward behind my desk, and unstable.
June spent 12 years, working with top designers and engineers and manufacturers, to come up with the best ergo office chair ever invented. It incorporates a smaller gymnastic ball atop an elegant office chair frame that has many classy features.
These included a sensuous velvet fabric cover, five rolling wheels for easy movement, gravity brakes on each of those five wheels, pneumatic height adjustment, 360 degree swivel, a portable hand pump to inflate the ball, high quality beautiful craftsmanship, and - most important – a chair that energetically works!
The Dynamic-Sit Sexy Ball Chair Experience
My name for June Ekman’s “ball chair” is my own. She gives a safe, mainstream name, the Sit-A-Round Ball Chair. I feel my name for it is more authentic – it comes from my experience of sitting on it. The Tai Chi Dynamic-Sit Sexy Ball Chair. It’s a bit long, but it gives you the juicy details of what the experience of this chair is like.
Let me break down my naming of this chair for you.
"Tai Chi": You are constantly forced to find the balance point atop the inflated ball. So just the act of sitting becomes an existential statement: You must CHOOSE to be in balance. You cannot slump, no matter how bad your posture or sitting habits were in the past.
In the martial art language of Tai Chi Chuan, the ergo ball chair helps you achieve balance between the yin sinking force of Earth's gravity and the yang rising force of Heaven. You collapse down, the ball has a counter-force that bounces you back up. When yin-yang balance is achieved in any domain of your body-mind, it spills over to many other categories of yin-yang dynamic. These traditionally include your ability to shift instantly between being empty and full in your weighting, substantial and insubstantial in your "chi presence", contracting and expanding in your joints, yielding and being firm, and so on.
I have noticed that this Tai Chi ball chair activates a whole chain of these yin-yang complexes in my body-mind. These yin-yang terms are all Chinese ways of talking about subtle polar forces that have reached some type of equilibrium. Tai Chi (or “taiji” in modern pinyin) is a cosmological term that refers to an invisible “Great Pole”. Tai Chi is the cosmic axis balancing all the positive and negative forces in the universe around the original unifying force of the Tao.
"Dynamic-Sit": the inflated gym ball fits comfortably under your buttocks. But it doesn't sit still; you have to make tiny micro-movements constantly. This stops your low back from freezing up the muscles, and becoming hard as rocks, to the dismay of your poor kidneys laboring silently beneath your low back muscles.
Take a moment and put your hands on your lower back, and feel around to see how tight it is. Ideally it would not be tight and hard, nor soft and flabby. Most healthy is a flexible and springy low back. Your two "kids" hiding inside your lower back will love you if you buy this chair for them. Sitting on the ball chair will make your lower vertebrae muscles work a little bit harder.
But guess what? Your spine loves being supported, and it will love you if you get the right chair that makes you support it. Consider it a genuine act of self-love.
How Can a Chair Possibly Promote Sexual Health?
"Sexy Ball": I don't mean to imply that the chair is an erotic sex toy, even though in fact it is rather sleek and sexy looking. I wish to distinguish the ball chair from the heavy Darth Vader I-have-a-huge-phallic-force-behind-me, typical of the high-backed masculine CEO office chair. That chair is good for power-seekers who want to intimidate the person facing them.The drawback of this chair is that it takes up a lot of space, the high back blocks the light and chi flow in the room, and excessive reliance on the "prop" ultimately makes the CEO develop a weaker spine, and hence weaker energy field.
This ball chair is for Tai Chi people who want to feel they are sitting light-and-easy-on-top-of-the-world. It is for folks who want a pleasurable dance between Heaven and Earth, between male and female. Sitting on the ball chair, you can feel like you have found the delicate and sensual point of moving balance between the sexes.
Now, we could extend our imagination, and speculate there may be an unconscious cross-sexual content in the totally unique shape of this chair. Men may feel they are sitting atop a large egg, hatching creative new ideas. Women may feel the chair's large dynamic phallus shape beneath them is firmly, yet gently supporting their inner pelvic structure. Its male aspect is something that can be trusted; this chair will never wrongly exploit the beauty of their Goddess-given anatomy.
But the real sexy part comes from having your pelvis move freely. I have noticed that when I invite friends to sit on the chair, they immediately discover that they can freely wiggle their pelvis around. There is no other chair on the market that lets you freely wiggle your hips while sitting.
I watch my friends go through a series of predictable responses. It begins with an initial moment of innocent envy: they see me sitting on the chair, having fun, and their Inner Child naturally wants me to get off the chair and let them sit on it. I pretend to reluctantly give up my perch. Then comes their first delightful feeling of glee. Laughter arrives next, as they test the extremes of the ball chair's bounce. Then they start to lose balance. That brings out an even bigger smile. Some of them fall off, but it's OK. It’s the little kid in them, remembering the first time they tried to ride a bike. The adult disappears, they are having real FUN.
Finally, there’s a satisfied sigh of relief as they stabilize atop the ball. The recognition sinks in, that one can sit and be free at the same time. No more squirming in your seat – the seat squirms with you, and it is totally allowed.
Can We Allow Ourselves the Deep Pleasure of Dynamic-Sitting?
This sign of relief is often followed by a small self-conscious moment. It is possibly a furtive feeling of embarrassment. Its almost unavoidable: sitting on the chair, and wiggling your ass around on the soft-yet-firm ball, grants a feeling of sexual pleasure. It feels good, because it reminds us of the same pelvic movement we enjoy during love-making.
Sometimes there is a small moment of guilt. Perhaps the unconscious question arises: Am I permitted to feel so liberated in public, allowed to enjoy a moment of sexual pleasure by simply sitting on an office chair? Behind it is an even deeper question of self-worth: Am I good enough a person, to be allowed that much continuous pleasure, even while slaving away on dull office reports?
A lot of people are attracted to the Healing Tao, or to my particular version of it, which integrates qigong & inner sexual alchemy meditation. One reason they like it is because it naturally blends sexuality and spirituality. It offers rhythmic whole-body qigong movement, and the grounded energetics of internal male and female chi cultivation. This chair supports that same process. But because many people spend more time sitting at their desk than they spend practicing qigong or meditation, the chair is a really valuable support.
Ancients Recognized Sexual Chi Flows Up the Spine
This new Tai Chi Dynamic-Sit Sexy Ball Chair integrates sexuality and sitting. So not only do you get better posture and energetic support from your spine, you steadily release sexual energy ("jing chi", in Taoist lingo) trapped in the pelvis and sacrum, so it can flow easily up your spine and nourish your brain. It’s part of what I call an “ergo orgasm”. When body structure is aligned, and mind is clear, energy flows. Bliss can happen spontaneously.
"Raise Sexual Essence to Nourish the Brain" was the title of the original sexual practice first mentioned in Taoist texts 2000 years ago. Eventually this became the famous Taoist “microcosmic orbit meditation” that I teach as part of my Qigong (Chi Kung) Fundamentals 2.
My "Open Chi Flow in the Orbit" qigong and the secret Wudang orbit spinning pearl meditation method stimulates the chi flow to move up the spine. It helps the chi to continue flowing over the crown of the head and down the front of the body, forming a continuous spiral inside the body. It creates a wonderful feeling of balance and harmony. What causes this feeling? I believe the Orbit, when properly done, stirs up and mixes the sex hormones in your blood with the "bone marrow" or cerebral-spinal fluid. They alchemically interact with your chi or consciousness flowing through them, producing a higher spiritual awareness (shen).
It’s what I believe that Marge and F. M. Alexander were unconsciously trying to stimulate by guiding the spine to release its collapsed tension upward and forward. But the spine cannot release its tension unless the pelvis and sacrum first release their sexual tension. You could track it further, all the way to tension with gravity pulling us down into the ground.
My point is that everyone is subconsciously tapping into the pool of sexual energy trapped in the lower half of the body - all of the time. Taoist qigong and inner alchemy chi circulation techniques are just designed to make it conscious and more efficient. The solo Taoist sexual energy cultivation practice has nothing to do with the act of sex intercourse. It’s just about sexual energy being converted into creative energy which gets converted into spiritual awareness.
What’s cool about this chair is that sitting on it is a dynamic process that does it for you. You could say it stimulates a very mild, slow-acting kundalini effect up the spine. This is what good tai chi or qigong practice will do for your spine – the chi will go rippling through it.
The proof for me that this chair works is that I feel much more alert on the Tai Chi Dynamic-Sit Sexy Ball chair. I’ve noticed it even when I am working for hours at a time writing, or answering the dozens of emails I get everyday. Anybody who feels dynamic and sexy even while sitting for hours is going to be more productive. Not to mention the main issue: you will enjoy your life a lot more.
The Challenge of Staying Body-Conscious While Sitting
Most people sitting for a long time forget they have a body. Their body becomes rigid and immobile, like the chair they are sitting on. They essentially become a big head floating above the chair. They get totally disconnected from the ground. Energetically, their head floats into the computer screen (or book, or report, or whatever you are looking at). The ball chair is different. It forces you to engage your whole body-mind.
This is a chair for Tai Chi and health lovers who seek flexibility and chi flow. It’s not a chair for CEO type old paradigm power trippers, as they are not allowed to have this much fun. It is more suitable for new generation CEO's and co-creative types who want more power flowing their life process. If Lao Tzu is your hero, this chair is for you. It’s full of “Tao-Wow”!
Just sitting on this Tai Chi Dynamic-Sit Sexy Ball Chair promotes flow of the Life Force. In fact, just pronouncing my name for the chair will get your chi flowing! Seriously, when you sit on the chair, you will have a much more dynamic relation with the earth. The Chi (Qi) pulses up from the Earth, through your legs, drawn up by the micro-pulsations of your pelvic movements. From there it can flow effortlessly into the spine, heart, and brain. Don’t forget the heart part.
Summary of Tai Chi Dynamic-Sit Chair Benefits
To summarize, this chair helps reduce body stress by:
1. Releasing spinal pressure by avoiding fixed sitting slump.
2. Strengthening back muscles with micro-movements.
3. Encouraging correct spinal alignment over the ball.
4. Increasing circulation and sexual energy pump from pelvis to brain.
Adjusting to the Dynamic Sitting Process
You actually have to build up your ability to sit for hours on the tai chi ball chair, because most people don't have much movement in their lower back muscles from so many years of slouching and slumping. A moment ago, I asked you to feel your low back. Feel it again. Ask yourself, is my low back the most relaxed part of my body, ready to let the chi flow effortlessly through it?
Chances are your back could use some dynamic support and greater flexibility. But you cannot get it a few minutes of sitting on this chair – as fun and incredible as the chair is. Reason: it takes YOU time to change and become as flexibile as the ball chair. So if you buy this tai chi chair, don't throw away your old rigid chair immediately.
Healing your back and posture might take a week or longer to work up to full time sitting ability, until you adjust to your dynamic new reality. Then you will have a sitting process that supports your qigong, yoga, meditation or tai chi process!
The ball chair is easy to inflate, and it comes with a free hand pump that takes about 30 seconds to inflate. It takes about 5 minutes to assemble, its so simple that anyone can do it. Its also really strong - it supports up to 500 lbs (170 kg) in weight capacity. There is even a wheel lock mechanism so the chair doesn't slip away from under you while you are having fun bouncing around on it like a little kid. Your weight on the ball chair keeps the brakes on the wheels, and gives you a greater feeling of security.
The whole seat adjusts its height pneumatically, as we've come to expect from a classy office chair. Tall folks – anyone over 5 foot 10 inches – might consider ordering the Tall version of the chair for $9. extra. The manufacturer will send you both the short axle and the long pneumatic axle, so you can always change it later if you want to give their chair to one of your kids. You just substitute the other length of axle (use a rubber mallet to knock out the old axle from its setting).
The other thing I’ve noticed is that because you are sitting on air, instead of foam padding used in most chairs, the ball chair is much cooler and more comfortable in summer. I find regular foam chairs start to feel sweaty after a few hours in the summer. Conversely, I found it nice to warm the ball chair in winter, as I live in the mountains of North Carolina. All I do is toss a wool scarf or shawl over the top of the ball chair’s velvet covering. Then the inflated ball feels more comfortable and toasty in winter.
…
WARNING for Couples – and a Better Deal for Multi-Chair Buyers
June Ekman spent 12 years thinking of every possible design innovation to make this the best ergo chair on the market. I love the chair, and had to fight my wife Joyce for it after the first one arrived. There was no peace in the house until we got a second one....and remember at that time, the chairs cost $250. each. Again, it was a bargain, money well spent. A good chair is like good shoes – its something your body needs, not a luxury. You’ll never remember the money you spent, but your back and pelvis will always remember the pleasure it now receives from sitting.
So please be warned: if you've got more than one person in the house/office likely to develop a craving for the hottest, most fun, sexy, and dynamically functional ergo chair – there could be problems. Two people cannot sit on this chair at the same time. I don’t want to be held responsible for creating any in-fighting and jealousy. I’m serious – this chair is real magnet. Everyone else sitting around in old rigid chairs will feel their old chairs are dead. By comparison, other chairs are lifeless. It’s human nature to seek fun and freedom and more life in your pelvis and spine.
•I am referring here to normal daily use. Couples are free to experiment. :)
I don't normally endorse products outside the domain of my own expertise. But weak backs and poor posture are a universal problem, even amongst my students. I've tested this chair. My wife Joyce – the Teacher of movement teachers – has tested it, and we both agree. It's a great chair at a fabulous price. But let me say it again: having a good ergo chair is really an essential in life, not a luxury. I figure that if my students are being supported at home to sit dynamically, that their tai chi or qigong practice will also improve.
Order Your Chair Now
So I am whole heartedly endorsing this chair - because its fun, sexy, and healthy. It puts you into a high energy moving mode common to qigong/tai chi/yoga for all those hours you are sitting at the computer or doing other desk tasks…
Benefits
Helps Reduce Body Stress By:
Releasing spinal pressure
Strengthening muscles
Encouraging spinal alignment
Increasing circulation and energy
A Great Solution to a Persistent Problem
The Sit-A-Round™ ball chair supports the weight of the pelvis and facilitates the proper use of the sit bones, encouraging an easeful distribution of weight. The inflated vinyl ball seat sends a continual subtle message to "move up" which keeps the spine from slumping in a C curve. The ball responds individually to the weight and body movement of each user. Tension is released throughout the shoulders and back. This is an ideal chair for people whose work involves long periods of sitting as well as for those who have injured their backs.
How The Sit-A-Round™ Benefits The Sitter
Uses the principle of active sitting. Sitting on a moveable surface requires the active use of the legs and torso.
Keeps the spine uncompressed.
Encourages one to sit up without tensing every muscle in the body.
Helps prevent back injuries prevalent in the increasingly stationary work force. It is in fact a muscle-toning device.
Overcomes some of the circulation and muscle fatigue associated with sedentary work. **
Helps keep the mind alert.**
Eliminates a back rest, balancing the muscular work between the front and back of the spine, thus promoting torso strength. ****
”The Chair: Rethinking Culture, Body and Design”, Galen Cranz W.W. Norton, 1998 (www.amazon.com)
http://www.healingtaousa.com/ballchair.html
The Tai Chi Dynamic-Sit Sexy Ball Chair?
YES!Anyone can now practice Tai Chiwhile sitting on their ass!
It’s fun!It’s a revolution in sitting technology.It’s great for your spine!Your pelvis & buttocks will love it.It’s elegant.It feels SEXY.Are you ready to have an Ergo-Orgasm?
“Wow! This chair is fun. I'm getting more flexible, and my qigong is getting more graceful. I pretend I'm belly dancing all day while working. It's only been a month, but I've noticed my derriere, abs and thigh muscles seem to be getting stronger - all from from "playing" while working. How can anyone ever go back to sitting with frozen spines after feeling this good? It also keeps me focused - I think it might cure Attention Deficit in kids.”- Nancy Baumgarten, Office Manager, Healing Tao USA
The chair has been wonderful. Having had a back injury for many years, I've always had trouble finding a comfortable position to meditate in. The ergo chair keeps my spine perfectly aligned, which supports my old injury and allows chi to flow more easily throughout my entire system. It's a simple chair, but it has significantly improved the quality of my meditations.
-Alex in Ohio
“I’ve dedicated my life to sculpting clay and other creative arts. When Michael Winn introduced me to chi kung, it started a revolution in my artistic process. I learned to "energetically sculpt" my body, my art, and my life. I'm in my 70's, but feel young and vigorous. When I sat on June Ekman’s ergo ball chair, it started a second revolution. Now I love sitting on my ball chair – doing creative art, using it for meditation, or just to have fun! I feel my chi process is continuous and even more powerful, whether I am sitting or standing.”
- Paulus Berenson, author, Finding One’s Way With Clay
Photos & Testimonials from health pros & other users
Ten Good Reasons to Buy this Ergo Chair
…
• Heals low back, grows a flexible spine.
• Feel more sexually energized and creative.
• Great classy gift for yourself or others.
• Elegant design enhances any office or home.
• Save thousands in future doctor/chiropractor bills.
• Have fun getting more work done!
…
Why I Love MyTai Chi Dynamic-Sit Sexy Ball Chair
Dear Seekers of Healthy Bodies and Virtuous Minds,
I would like to share a secret with you.
My name is Michael Winn. I have noticed over three decades of teaching the arts of body movement and meditation that many people make fast progress in improving their body's physical and energetic structure with tai chi, qigong (chi kung), yoga, and other great body-mind exercise systems.
But after getting all relaxed and tuned up, people go to their office or home. They slump into a chair, in deep body-unconsciousness, while staring at their computer. How do I know this to be true? To be honest, my wife Joyce Gayheart pointed it out to me. Joyce is a certified Alexander, Feldenkrais, Authentic Movement, and Healing Tao instructor of tai chi and qigong. She is a teacher’s teacher, trained in just about every kind of therapeutic movement art ever invented.
Yes, Joyce pointed out that I was slouching over my computer, and that it was probably draining my energy. It was hard to deny. I was the guilty party. I was doing this wicked thing to my own poor body - inflicting unnecessary stress on my spine while staring at my computer screen. I wasn’t the hunchback of Notre Dame – it was a more subtle collapse. But once I noticed it, I had to ask myself the hard question. Why would I do such a thing to my body? Especially after spending all my time teaching other people the secrets of body structure and easy chi flow?
Why Back Problems are Widespread
Answer #1: Bad Sitting Habits that I hadn't trained myself to let go of.
Answer #2: Bad chairs that supported my bad habits.
I suppose I can claim expertise in this field. I have spent thousands of dollars over the years trying out different office chairs claiming ergonomic superiority. Most of them were in fact great improvements over the basic office chair, but they all had drawbacks. The Balans chair (remember that one from Scandanavia?) hurt your knees after a while, and you couldn't turn. Another one had a split back that let me turn to the side easily, but didn't relieve compression in the spine.
This is a serious issue, as back pain & spine problems is the number one health complaint among modern office slaves, which includes nearly everybody who has a home office. The spine is the primary physical structural support of the body. It also stabilizes the core energy channel in the center of our body, thus is essential to whole-body/mind enlightenment.
So it is not a superficial issue on any level. Spinal health and flexibility is essential to well-being, and to maintaining strong energy flow. One of my Chinese teachers used to say repeatedly in his simple English: “Flexible spine is young spine!”. Translation: steady chi flow up the spine is the secret of eternally feeling young.
Relief is on its way. I have been road-testing for more than a year a new chair designed by a friend of mine, June Ekman. June is an Alexander teacher, dancer and choreographer at Sarah Lawrence college in New York. Joyce and I met June while studying with Marjorie Barstow. Marge was a delightful and youthful being in her 90's. She was also at the time the only living student of F. M. Alexander, the founder of the Alexander Method.
I consider Alexander an intuitive tai chi/qigong master. I would not be surprised if some aspect of Alexander’s soul had re-incarnated from China. If Alexander had actually received qigong or tai chi training in his lifetime, I am sure he would have pushed his wonderful discoveries even further.
Marge, Posture & the Tao of Alexander Work
Marge was also an unnamed Tao-ist in all ways: her goal was to discover the most effortless way to live in each moment, both in thought and in physical movement. She would float through a room, yet still be grounded, unlike most 90 year old folks. She could spot tension a mile away, and dissolve it with a light touch of her finger, like a fairy godmother waving her wand. She effortlessly moved on to other dimensions a few years ago. The Chinese would consider her a human immortal - someone who lives long enough to fulfill their destiny.
Marge's work was seminal in inspiring June to solve the problem of stressful sitting. Like myself, June loved the large, lively colored rubber Swiss gymnastic balls as an exercise tool for playing with body flexibility. I had even tried to use my exercise gym ball as an office chair, but found the big size ball too awkward behind my desk, and unstable.
June spent 12 years, working with top designers and engineers and manufacturers, to come up with the best ergo office chair ever invented. It incorporates a smaller gymnastic ball atop an elegant office chair frame that has many classy features.
These included a sensuous velvet fabric cover, five rolling wheels for easy movement, gravity brakes on each of those five wheels, pneumatic height adjustment, 360 degree swivel, a portable hand pump to inflate the ball, high quality beautiful craftsmanship, and - most important – a chair that energetically works!
The Dynamic-Sit Sexy Ball Chair Experience
My name for June Ekman’s “ball chair” is my own. She gives a safe, mainstream name, the Sit-A-Round Ball Chair. I feel my name for it is more authentic – it comes from my experience of sitting on it. The Tai Chi Dynamic-Sit Sexy Ball Chair. It’s a bit long, but it gives you the juicy details of what the experience of this chair is like.
Let me break down my naming of this chair for you.
"Tai Chi": You are constantly forced to find the balance point atop the inflated ball. So just the act of sitting becomes an existential statement: You must CHOOSE to be in balance. You cannot slump, no matter how bad your posture or sitting habits were in the past.
In the martial art language of Tai Chi Chuan, the ergo ball chair helps you achieve balance between the yin sinking force of Earth's gravity and the yang rising force of Heaven. You collapse down, the ball has a counter-force that bounces you back up. When yin-yang balance is achieved in any domain of your body-mind, it spills over to many other categories of yin-yang dynamic. These traditionally include your ability to shift instantly between being empty and full in your weighting, substantial and insubstantial in your "chi presence", contracting and expanding in your joints, yielding and being firm, and so on.
I have noticed that this Tai Chi ball chair activates a whole chain of these yin-yang complexes in my body-mind. These yin-yang terms are all Chinese ways of talking about subtle polar forces that have reached some type of equilibrium. Tai Chi (or “taiji” in modern pinyin) is a cosmological term that refers to an invisible “Great Pole”. Tai Chi is the cosmic axis balancing all the positive and negative forces in the universe around the original unifying force of the Tao.
"Dynamic-Sit": the inflated gym ball fits comfortably under your buttocks. But it doesn't sit still; you have to make tiny micro-movements constantly. This stops your low back from freezing up the muscles, and becoming hard as rocks, to the dismay of your poor kidneys laboring silently beneath your low back muscles.
Take a moment and put your hands on your lower back, and feel around to see how tight it is. Ideally it would not be tight and hard, nor soft and flabby. Most healthy is a flexible and springy low back. Your two "kids" hiding inside your lower back will love you if you buy this chair for them. Sitting on the ball chair will make your lower vertebrae muscles work a little bit harder.
But guess what? Your spine loves being supported, and it will love you if you get the right chair that makes you support it. Consider it a genuine act of self-love.
How Can a Chair Possibly Promote Sexual Health?
"Sexy Ball": I don't mean to imply that the chair is an erotic sex toy, even though in fact it is rather sleek and sexy looking. I wish to distinguish the ball chair from the heavy Darth Vader I-have-a-huge-phallic-force-behind-me, typical of the high-backed masculine CEO office chair. That chair is good for power-seekers who want to intimidate the person facing them.The drawback of this chair is that it takes up a lot of space, the high back blocks the light and chi flow in the room, and excessive reliance on the "prop" ultimately makes the CEO develop a weaker spine, and hence weaker energy field.
This ball chair is for Tai Chi people who want to feel they are sitting light-and-easy-on-top-of-the-world. It is for folks who want a pleasurable dance between Heaven and Earth, between male and female. Sitting on the ball chair, you can feel like you have found the delicate and sensual point of moving balance between the sexes.
Now, we could extend our imagination, and speculate there may be an unconscious cross-sexual content in the totally unique shape of this chair. Men may feel they are sitting atop a large egg, hatching creative new ideas. Women may feel the chair's large dynamic phallus shape beneath them is firmly, yet gently supporting their inner pelvic structure. Its male aspect is something that can be trusted; this chair will never wrongly exploit the beauty of their Goddess-given anatomy.
But the real sexy part comes from having your pelvis move freely. I have noticed that when I invite friends to sit on the chair, they immediately discover that they can freely wiggle their pelvis around. There is no other chair on the market that lets you freely wiggle your hips while sitting.
I watch my friends go through a series of predictable responses. It begins with an initial moment of innocent envy: they see me sitting on the chair, having fun, and their Inner Child naturally wants me to get off the chair and let them sit on it. I pretend to reluctantly give up my perch. Then comes their first delightful feeling of glee. Laughter arrives next, as they test the extremes of the ball chair's bounce. Then they start to lose balance. That brings out an even bigger smile. Some of them fall off, but it's OK. It’s the little kid in them, remembering the first time they tried to ride a bike. The adult disappears, they are having real FUN.
Finally, there’s a satisfied sigh of relief as they stabilize atop the ball. The recognition sinks in, that one can sit and be free at the same time. No more squirming in your seat – the seat squirms with you, and it is totally allowed.
Can We Allow Ourselves the Deep Pleasure of Dynamic-Sitting?
This sign of relief is often followed by a small self-conscious moment. It is possibly a furtive feeling of embarrassment. Its almost unavoidable: sitting on the chair, and wiggling your ass around on the soft-yet-firm ball, grants a feeling of sexual pleasure. It feels good, because it reminds us of the same pelvic movement we enjoy during love-making.
Sometimes there is a small moment of guilt. Perhaps the unconscious question arises: Am I permitted to feel so liberated in public, allowed to enjoy a moment of sexual pleasure by simply sitting on an office chair? Behind it is an even deeper question of self-worth: Am I good enough a person, to be allowed that much continuous pleasure, even while slaving away on dull office reports?
A lot of people are attracted to the Healing Tao, or to my particular version of it, which integrates qigong & inner sexual alchemy meditation. One reason they like it is because it naturally blends sexuality and spirituality. It offers rhythmic whole-body qigong movement, and the grounded energetics of internal male and female chi cultivation. This chair supports that same process. But because many people spend more time sitting at their desk than they spend practicing qigong or meditation, the chair is a really valuable support.
Ancients Recognized Sexual Chi Flows Up the Spine
This new Tai Chi Dynamic-Sit Sexy Ball Chair integrates sexuality and sitting. So not only do you get better posture and energetic support from your spine, you steadily release sexual energy ("jing chi", in Taoist lingo) trapped in the pelvis and sacrum, so it can flow easily up your spine and nourish your brain. It’s part of what I call an “ergo orgasm”. When body structure is aligned, and mind is clear, energy flows. Bliss can happen spontaneously.
"Raise Sexual Essence to Nourish the Brain" was the title of the original sexual practice first mentioned in Taoist texts 2000 years ago. Eventually this became the famous Taoist “microcosmic orbit meditation” that I teach as part of my Qigong (Chi Kung) Fundamentals 2.
My "Open Chi Flow in the Orbit" qigong and the secret Wudang orbit spinning pearl meditation method stimulates the chi flow to move up the spine. It helps the chi to continue flowing over the crown of the head and down the front of the body, forming a continuous spiral inside the body. It creates a wonderful feeling of balance and harmony. What causes this feeling? I believe the Orbit, when properly done, stirs up and mixes the sex hormones in your blood with the "bone marrow" or cerebral-spinal fluid. They alchemically interact with your chi or consciousness flowing through them, producing a higher spiritual awareness (shen).
It’s what I believe that Marge and F. M. Alexander were unconsciously trying to stimulate by guiding the spine to release its collapsed tension upward and forward. But the spine cannot release its tension unless the pelvis and sacrum first release their sexual tension. You could track it further, all the way to tension with gravity pulling us down into the ground.
My point is that everyone is subconsciously tapping into the pool of sexual energy trapped in the lower half of the body - all of the time. Taoist qigong and inner alchemy chi circulation techniques are just designed to make it conscious and more efficient. The solo Taoist sexual energy cultivation practice has nothing to do with the act of sex intercourse. It’s just about sexual energy being converted into creative energy which gets converted into spiritual awareness.
What’s cool about this chair is that sitting on it is a dynamic process that does it for you. You could say it stimulates a very mild, slow-acting kundalini effect up the spine. This is what good tai chi or qigong practice will do for your spine – the chi will go rippling through it.
The proof for me that this chair works is that I feel much more alert on the Tai Chi Dynamic-Sit Sexy Ball chair. I’ve noticed it even when I am working for hours at a time writing, or answering the dozens of emails I get everyday. Anybody who feels dynamic and sexy even while sitting for hours is going to be more productive. Not to mention the main issue: you will enjoy your life a lot more.
The Challenge of Staying Body-Conscious While Sitting
Most people sitting for a long time forget they have a body. Their body becomes rigid and immobile, like the chair they are sitting on. They essentially become a big head floating above the chair. They get totally disconnected from the ground. Energetically, their head floats into the computer screen (or book, or report, or whatever you are looking at). The ball chair is different. It forces you to engage your whole body-mind.
This is a chair for Tai Chi and health lovers who seek flexibility and chi flow. It’s not a chair for CEO type old paradigm power trippers, as they are not allowed to have this much fun. It is more suitable for new generation CEO's and co-creative types who want more power flowing their life process. If Lao Tzu is your hero, this chair is for you. It’s full of “Tao-Wow”!
Just sitting on this Tai Chi Dynamic-Sit Sexy Ball Chair promotes flow of the Life Force. In fact, just pronouncing my name for the chair will get your chi flowing! Seriously, when you sit on the chair, you will have a much more dynamic relation with the earth. The Chi (Qi) pulses up from the Earth, through your legs, drawn up by the micro-pulsations of your pelvic movements. From there it can flow effortlessly into the spine, heart, and brain. Don’t forget the heart part.
Summary of Tai Chi Dynamic-Sit Chair Benefits
To summarize, this chair helps reduce body stress by:
1. Releasing spinal pressure by avoiding fixed sitting slump.
2. Strengthening back muscles with micro-movements.
3. Encouraging correct spinal alignment over the ball.
4. Increasing circulation and sexual energy pump from pelvis to brain.
Adjusting to the Dynamic Sitting Process
You actually have to build up your ability to sit for hours on the tai chi ball chair, because most people don't have much movement in their lower back muscles from so many years of slouching and slumping. A moment ago, I asked you to feel your low back. Feel it again. Ask yourself, is my low back the most relaxed part of my body, ready to let the chi flow effortlessly through it?
Chances are your back could use some dynamic support and greater flexibility. But you cannot get it a few minutes of sitting on this chair – as fun and incredible as the chair is. Reason: it takes YOU time to change and become as flexibile as the ball chair. So if you buy this tai chi chair, don't throw away your old rigid chair immediately.
Healing your back and posture might take a week or longer to work up to full time sitting ability, until you adjust to your dynamic new reality. Then you will have a sitting process that supports your qigong, yoga, meditation or tai chi process!
The ball chair is easy to inflate, and it comes with a free hand pump that takes about 30 seconds to inflate. It takes about 5 minutes to assemble, its so simple that anyone can do it. Its also really strong - it supports up to 500 lbs (170 kg) in weight capacity. There is even a wheel lock mechanism so the chair doesn't slip away from under you while you are having fun bouncing around on it like a little kid. Your weight on the ball chair keeps the brakes on the wheels, and gives you a greater feeling of security.
The whole seat adjusts its height pneumatically, as we've come to expect from a classy office chair. Tall folks – anyone over 5 foot 10 inches – might consider ordering the Tall version of the chair for $9. extra. The manufacturer will send you both the short axle and the long pneumatic axle, so you can always change it later if you want to give their chair to one of your kids. You just substitute the other length of axle (use a rubber mallet to knock out the old axle from its setting).
The other thing I’ve noticed is that because you are sitting on air, instead of foam padding used in most chairs, the ball chair is much cooler and more comfortable in summer. I find regular foam chairs start to feel sweaty after a few hours in the summer. Conversely, I found it nice to warm the ball chair in winter, as I live in the mountains of North Carolina. All I do is toss a wool scarf or shawl over the top of the ball chair’s velvet covering. Then the inflated ball feels more comfortable and toasty in winter.
…
WARNING for Couples – and a Better Deal for Multi-Chair Buyers
June Ekman spent 12 years thinking of every possible design innovation to make this the best ergo chair on the market. I love the chair, and had to fight my wife Joyce for it after the first one arrived. There was no peace in the house until we got a second one....and remember at that time, the chairs cost $250. each. Again, it was a bargain, money well spent. A good chair is like good shoes – its something your body needs, not a luxury. You’ll never remember the money you spent, but your back and pelvis will always remember the pleasure it now receives from sitting.
So please be warned: if you've got more than one person in the house/office likely to develop a craving for the hottest, most fun, sexy, and dynamically functional ergo chair – there could be problems. Two people cannot sit on this chair at the same time. I don’t want to be held responsible for creating any in-fighting and jealousy. I’m serious – this chair is real magnet. Everyone else sitting around in old rigid chairs will feel their old chairs are dead. By comparison, other chairs are lifeless. It’s human nature to seek fun and freedom and more life in your pelvis and spine.
•I am referring here to normal daily use. Couples are free to experiment. :)
I don't normally endorse products outside the domain of my own expertise. But weak backs and poor posture are a universal problem, even amongst my students. I've tested this chair. My wife Joyce – the Teacher of movement teachers – has tested it, and we both agree. It's a great chair at a fabulous price. But let me say it again: having a good ergo chair is really an essential in life, not a luxury. I figure that if my students are being supported at home to sit dynamically, that their tai chi or qigong practice will also improve.
Order Your Chair Now
So I am whole heartedly endorsing this chair - because its fun, sexy, and healthy. It puts you into a high energy moving mode common to qigong/tai chi/yoga for all those hours you are sitting at the computer or doing other desk tasks…