Alexander Technique + Ergonomics
Ergonomics is the study of people’s efficiency in their working environment. When equipment is designed ergonomically it is designed to "maximize productivity by reducing operator fatigue and discomfort.” Examples of ergonomically designed items include: footrests, lumbar back supports, adjustable chairs, standing desks, balance ball chairs, knee chairs, and many other things. According to Ergonomic Trends, the proper way to set yourself up ergonomically is in a chair that has lumbar supports, arm supports, swivels, rolls, and allows your knees to be bent at 90 degrees. Ideally this would allow your shoulders to be relaxed, your back supported, arms supported, thighs horizontal, with your feet on the floor. Your desk height should allow your elbows to be bent at 90 degrees and your computer screen should line up with your eye height. Anything you need should be in easy reach.
The problem with this is that putting yourself in this set up, you can convince yourself that it’s the relationship between office furniture and not yourself that is in charge of your body and any resulting aches or pains. While it is wonderful to have a comfortable and easy to use office and desk set up, the less you think of how to use your body, the less you will use your body.
Allowing furniture to support you means that your internal support system, your musculature, myofascial tissue, and ligaments will not be active in lieu of these external support systems. Therefore when you go to do something, you have not kept this baseline support activity present and could potentially end up doing more damage to yourself in the long run.
Mark Josefsberg, an Alexander Technique teacher in New York, says, “The most ergonomically sound, most expensive chair (or couch) in the world will not prevent you from slumping. Perhaps it will prevent you misusing yourself for a little while, but once you get used to it you will go back into your habitual way of sitting.”
The Alexander Technique works to re-coordinate the muscles and directions of sitting and standing so that you are not reliant on ergonomically designed furniture to allow you to find good posture or poise while working.
If you are interested in pursuing Alexander Technique lessons to help you in your work space, reach out here!
The problem with this is that putting yourself in this set up, you can convince yourself that it’s the relationship between office furniture and not yourself that is in charge of your body and any resulting aches or pains. While it is wonderful to have a comfortable and easy to use office and desk set up, the less you think of how to use your body, the less you will use your body.
Allowing furniture to support you means that your internal support system, your musculature, myofascial tissue, and ligaments will not be active in lieu of these external support systems. Therefore when you go to do something, you have not kept this baseline support activity present and could potentially end up doing more damage to yourself in the long run.
Mark Josefsberg, an Alexander Technique teacher in New York, says, “The most ergonomically sound, most expensive chair (or couch) in the world will not prevent you from slumping. Perhaps it will prevent you misusing yourself for a little while, but once you get used to it you will go back into your habitual way of sitting.”
The Alexander Technique works to re-coordinate the muscles and directions of sitting and standing so that you are not reliant on ergonomically designed furniture to allow you to find good posture or poise while working.
If you are interested in pursuing Alexander Technique lessons to help you in your work space, reach out here!