This could help curb some of the side effects of sitting

There are many harmful habits that can affect and shorten our quality of life. One of the most common is sitting, which is equated with smoking for the damage it does to your body. This is worrying as many of us spend most of our time sitting.

According to evidence and health experts, sitting on the floor is associated with better posture, which improves your flexibility and mobility.

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In our culture, sitting on the floor is something we don’t do often, but rather relate it to something that children do or something we do with a specific purpose, such as stretching or yoga. But Dan Büttner, the founder of the term Blue Zones (which refers to the regions of the world associated with longer living), says that the people of Japan have a different approach.

“The longest-lived women in world history lived in Okinawa, and I know from personal experience they were sitting on the floor,” he said in an interview with Well and Good. “I spent two days with a 103-year-old woman and saw her come up and down 30 or 40 times, so that’s 30 or 40 squats a day.”

While sitting on the floor can help your body remain more flexible and agile, having to stand up probably brings the most benefits. Findings from a study of the benefits of the seated stand-up test back this up by claiming that people who perform poorly are up to six times more likely to die earlier than those with positive results.

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Sitting is something we all have to do whether we want to or not, so it’s best not to stress yourself too much. Whether you are sitting on the floor or in a chair, what you can do is keep an eye on your posture. Sitting incorrectly on the floor can impair blood circulation, contribute to poor posture and put additional strain on your joints. Hence, it is important to keep track of how you feel and stop when you are in pain.

No matter where you sit, it is important to change positions, stand up and stretch frequently. Even a short walk can help and contribute to a more active lifestyle.