Trying radical concepts out for short periods of time is, I believe, integral for ongoing personal development. Starting tomorrow, I am embarking on my first monthly challenge: no sitting on chairs or benches.
Here are some reasons why I am doing this:
- Sitting on chairs or benches even for short periods of time causes me to have back pain.
- It is harder for me to focus on correct posture when sitting on a chair or bench.
- I want to develop other rest positions, such as squatting and hero pose, and use them comfortably.
The ground rules are pretty simple. I will not sit on any chair or bench for the next month. This includes couches, piano benches, pews, and stools, as well as ordinary chairs.
The only major exception I am making is car seats. I thought of removing my car seat, but I am not totally sure it is legal. Also, I would have to undo the electrical wiring for the seat which I would rather leave alone. I also cannot think of any healthy and comfortable way to drive a car longer distances other than sitting. My plan then is to not drive for more than 1 hour at a time without taking a 10-minute break.
Other than this, I may make a few minor exceptions to avoid social awkwardness, but I will try to work this out beforehand. Playing the piano is a bit of a challenge, but totally doable.
If you think of other monthly challenges I might be interested in, please let me know. I will give an update on how things went after the month is over.
Wow, Dan, that’s quite a challenge. I’m curious how you will play the piano, will you just stand up or try to squat? That would be difficult especially with using the pedal. Is it ok to sit on an exercise ball?
Hope your month goes well!!
No exercise ball. I play the piano while kneeling on my left knee supported by a couple pillows. I can alternate between this and a Warrior One pose.