The secret of longevity of the Japanese or why it is useful to sit on the floor
It is no coincidence that the habit of sitting on the floor is called “art” in Japan. This is a great workout to keep your body flexible and improve your coordination. And she is considered one of the reasons for the existence of the phenomenon of longevity of the Japanese!
The average person spends 8-11 hours a day in a sitting position. With the pandemic, many began to sit even longer, and therefore the question of how harmful it is has again become one of the most discussed. Sales of ergonomic furniture have grown and interest in exercises for good posture has increased. And that's fine, but doctors say it's more beneficial to sit on the floor than in a chair.
Longevity in Okinawan
Traveler and biohacker Dan Buettner devoted himself to studying the peculiarities of the life of people inhabiting the so-called "blue zones". These are the places on the map of our planet where the largest number of centenarians lives. In order to get into the list of “blue zones”, any region of any country needs to lead in terms of maximum life expectancy and the number of people who have crossed the 100th anniversary, being of sound mind and clear memory.
Dan spent several months on the island of Okinawa, whose centenarians were heard in every corner of the planet. Buttner was preparing to publish his book Blue Zones. 9 rules for longevity from the people who live the longest." While working on it, he lived for several months in the house of a 103-year-old Japanese woman. The writer was struck by the fact that she continues to maintain physical activity at such an advanced age: “She rose and fell to the floor at least 30-40 times a day. That's about 30-40 full squats."
Scientists believe that the ability to get up and squat several dozen times a day without problems can in itself be considered a sign that a person will live a long life. There is a simple test called "Sit-Rise". To perform it, you need to try to sit on the floor, cross-legged, and then slowly stand up. You can not resort to using your hands, lean on your knees or lose your balance. It is believed that if you pass it successfully, then you lead a healthy lifestyle and your body is in excellent condition. Those who cannot complete it have a 5 times higher risk of health problems.
The sit-stand test in Japan is no surprise. The locals call this position seiza: before sitting down, they bend their legs and lower themselves on their heels. If in this position you begin to slouch, then discomfort appears. In fact, this is the easiest exercise to maintain proper posture.
Benefits of sitting on the floor
From a sign of longevity to real reasons to move from a chair to the floor. This is an excellent aerobic exercise that positively affects the coordination of movements, improves balance and strengthens the main muscle groups of the body. The unusual position makes the hip joints more mobile and improves blood circulation in the pelvis. If you regularly sit on the floor, then you maintain muscle balance and relax the muscles in your legs. We are sure they will thank you!
Does this mean that now you have to get rid of the furniture in the house? Doctors believe that this is not necessary: you can regularly change from a chair to the floor – and vice versa. So you will alternate the load on different parts of the spine and avoid muscle tension. But it is important to monitor your feelings and get used to the new position gradually. It is no coincidence that yogis consider sitting on the floor one of the ways to stretch!