Is a sit-stand desk your match made in heaven?
I've been facilitating integrated healthcare sessions and mentoring for 15 years.
Much of that is me seated either at a treatment table next to a client or sitting in front of my computer monitor with a client on the other side of the screen.
All of which I love, but it’s not good for my body and it craves movement!
For years, after each client I would make a point of getting up and walking around to stretch the body. My lymph system can easily become quite stagnant if I’m not mindful of the need to move, and that in turn can cause me other health issues to contend with.
This need to move also comes up in many clients sessions...it seems we just don’t move enough. Or move enough in ways that our bodies need, that brings us pleasure and that which is right for us. Often we're following someones elses model on what movement (aka exercise) should look like and many people don't enjoy it.
Sitting and being seated for long periods of time has been found to be super bad for your overall health- maybe that's not new news for you.
Sitting for long times doesn't just play a major hand at building disease, but it’s really brutal on the structural integrity of the bones and joints. It tends to shorten certain muscles, over extend others and that brings pain, inflammation and restriction of movement.
A sit- stand desk allows you to be standing whilst working comfortably and moving around a bit.
Some are also called height adjustable desks or standing desks. I got a sit- stand desk because it gives me the option of both and I love options! I got mine earlier this year from IKEA after searching for over a year.
I wanted one that I could easily put together myself (not needing an engineering degree or 5 people) and one that I could easily move from stand to sit within seconds, so electronic not wind up and down via a handle. .
My lovely desk (Trudy or Trude for short)...yes I name things sometimes! comes in many different types of desk tops and lengths so you can pretty much custom your own according to your needs and wants.
There are plenty on the market, even second hand ones. So you can find one to fit your budget.
There has been some interesting information about these desks coming to light and wanted to share my own experiences in case it spoke to you and what your needs are.
Because of the ability to stand up right and move around is so great it’s been found to help with the following;
* Improve lower back pain (such a common complaint in people)
* Improved neck, shoulder pain and range of movement
* Strengthen the lower back and pelvic floor
* Produces and circulates healthy hormones throughout the body, that help your mood be high and your happiness levels continue
* Improved circulation and lymphatic drainage which improves drainage of waste product and toxins from the body
* Lowers blood sugar levels in type Two Diabetic patients
* Helps stabilize and regulate type one Diabetic patients blood sugar levels
(In a small study of 10 office workers, standing for 180 minutes after lunch reduced the blood sugar spike by 43% compared to sitting for the same amount of time) Great for those of you who get drops in blood sugar in the afternoon where you find yourself, shakey, energy drops, hard to concentrate, crave sweets or carbs, lightheaded, want to sleep)
Another study involving 23 office workers found that alternating between standing and sitting every 30 minutes throughout the workday reduced blood sugar spikes by 11.1% on average.
* Achieve/ maintain healthy weight range for you individually
* Lower the risk of heart disease
* Gives you the energy to achieve more in a day. Better productivity
* Less stress because of the overall positive effects rippling through the body-mind
* Less fatigue as a whole.
* Improved mental health
* More creative thought and curiosity spontaneously happens
* Some think it helps to improve not only your quality of life, but quantity of life...meaning you could live longer
* You can dance while you work- BONUS!
My experience:
I notice that when I eat my lunch at my computer whilst standing, it descends throughout my digestive system so much faster than when I’m seated. I definitely don’t do this all the time, but if I’m having a sluggish day then I’ll do this and it helps to pick me up and boost my energy levels within 15 mins. As I said, I’ve had issues with my lymph system in the past so I deliberately do things to support its functioning.
When I first started using my desk I immediately noticed how great it felt to be standing and working at the same time. Freedom is the word that comes to mind.
My whole body started to feel more alive and lighter. In fact I was surprised to find I’d shed 4 kilos from my lovely fat cells recently! That wasn't one thing I was aiming for but I knew that with more movement by body would respond favourably.
I have found that since using it I have more energy daily because I’m getting better circulation throughout my body. I can sway my hips, stretch my back and flex my muscles as I stand and work. During summer I don’t have the fluid build up in my lower legs that I used to get from being seated for sessions nearly all day.
When my body starts to need some rest I simply push my electronic down button and within seconds I’m seated again.
I love it because it’s all totally geared to supporting my own needs. And my ability to care for me and honor what I need out of a work space is one of my highest priorities. It’s so important for me to look after me and make sure that I’m in a good space to be able to support others for the day.
Recently I keep hearing all over social media, “the time to make a stand is here”...and maybe that’s right, maybe the time to make a stand...desk right now.
Or maybe you already have one and can tell me what benefits you have noticed from using it.
Join me on social media and share your own thoughts on the subject.
Instagram- https://www.instagram.com/jacquie_mcintyre/
Email- info@jacquiemcintyre.com
Love,
Jacquie xx
About Jacquie...
Knowledge sharer, wisdom bringer, light shiner and fierce supporter of you and your journey.
Jacquie advocates for people's potential and the return journey to Self- she shares her knowledge in all things healthcare, consciousness and body psychology whilst inspiring people to be the most exceptional version of themselves that they can possibly be.
Through private treatment sessions, seminars, workshops based in integrated consciousness healthcare and founder of the My Incredible Orbit community that gets you the powerful results you so deeply desire.
Consciousness based healthcare, where the best version of you and your journey towards a sensational life awaits you.