Is Your Chair Sexist?

Today I'm going to talk to about something that you have a very close relationship with that you may not be paying enough attention to!…

Your chair!  

And your chair just might be sexist!

We've all heard that sitting is the new smoking and that sitting for hours without a break isn't good for your health.  

And how you sit can affect your overall posture, how you feel and come across to others.

Honestly when I started working with people nearly 19 years ago, I was interested in helping people become more aware of their bodies in order to sit better.  

I had no particular interest in chairs, but over time I realized that even if you take Alexander Technique lessons, but your furniture is designed for someone half a foot taller than you, you're probably still going to have a problem despite the lessons.

And I want people to succeed, so now I make a big deal about chairs too!

And what I noticed was that although the chair problem affected many people, women seemed to suffer the most.  

Why?

Because most "standard" office chairs are size medium and a medium-sized chair is designed for the average man between 5'6 and 6'2".

After a few sessions with a client, it often becomes obvious that a major source of pain and tension can be traced to both physical habits and a poor desk set-up, including a chair that isn't the right size.

Sometimes people aren't even sitting in a proper task chair (desk chair) because of "inherited" furniture or a chair from a conference room that somehow ended up I in front of their desk.  

With staff turnover and people just seem to grab the nearest chair -- and not ask questions.  

And more often than not, size is more of a consideration for tall people (often men) sitting in a chair that is too small for them rather that shorter women who find they have they have no option but to sit on their feet, let them dangle, or tuck them back on the chair's wheel base.

But many women don't even realize that they should complain about this -- and that not having the option to sit all the way back with their feet touching the floor day after day, year after year could be a huge problem.

I worked for a tech company many years ago that ordered chairs new chairs for the whole office at some point.  Everyone received a medium chair, unless they requested a high-back chair.  The only alternative was to size up, not down. 

When I ask most women if their feet touch the floor, I would estimate that more than 50% say no.

Why is it a problem if your feet don't touch the floor?

If your feet don't touch the floor (or a footrest), you're missing a significant amount of support for the rest of your body, so you'll likely compensate by creating a lot of tension in your thighs, hips and even your upper back and shoulders.

So what are the main things to look for in terms of fit?

Seat Pan (the part you sit on) - It's too long for most women.  When you are sitting all the way back in the chair, you should have 2-3 finger widths of space between the front of the seat at the back of your knees and your feet should be able to touch the floor.

The seat pan can also be too wide (or too narrow), making it hard to use arm rests.

Seat Back - If it isn't the right size, it won't support you properly.  The "lumbar" bump might hit your mid-back if it's too big.

Sitting Style - Also, most "ergonomic" chairs are designed to take you slightly back, so if you're like a lot of people and you sit more forward when you work, you won't be supported by the back of the chair.  

What's the best solution if your actually desk chair is too big, but getting a new one isn't an immediate option?  A combination of a foot rest and a back support can help resize the chair for you.

If you think your chair is too big, try this right now.  

• Place a cushion (like a square couch cushion) or a folded towel between your back and the back of the chair.

• Raise the chair so that you can type with your arms parallel to the floor (elbow at 90 degrees)

• Place a footrest (or a box or some books) under your feet so that you can be at the right height for the desk with your feet touching something.

Try out my suggestions here and if you want to learn more about how to maintain good posture at your desk, my next workshop is for you!

Join me for AWARE in your Chair - Better Posture in Your Workspace. Click here to learn more!