Our spine is not straight. It is an S-shaped structure with three natural curves in the neck, chest and lower back, says Dr. Varalakshmi Yanamandra, an Ayurvedic medicine expert and director of the Ayur Wellness and Pain Center.
Benefits of sitting on the floor for the spine
Dr. Varalakshmi Yanamandra points out some benefits of adopting the habit of sitting on the floor every day:
Support Spinal Health: If there is one habit you can adopt to improve your spinal health, adopt the habit of sitting on the floor.
Having a healthy spinal curve is an important aspect of overall skeletal health. Poor posture, slouching or bending forward are some of the reasons why the natural curve is lost.
“Sitting on the floor has many health benefits. But the most important is that it affects the spine and provides stability to the spine,” says Dr. Varalakshmi Yanamandra.
Strengthen your hip flexors: The hip flexors are the muscles that connect our hips to our thighs, lower back, and pelvis. Weak hip flexors can also affect your walking, stability, and balance. Sitting on the floor will help strengthen these hip flexors.
Improve your posture: Sitting on the floor requires a lot of lower body muscles to work. Furthermore, this habit will help you avoid slouching, because sitting with bad posture will quickly cause back pain.
Supports longevity: The ability to get up off the floor is a predictor of longevity according to research in the journal Preventive Cardiology.
How long should I sit?
“Sitting in a chair for long hours can put pressure on the lower back, specifically the lumbar region. Therefore, make it a habit to sit on the floor for at least a few minutes every day to change your posture and make your back stronger,” asserts Dr. Yanamandra.
Sharing the same view, Mr. Aman Puri, founder of Steadfast Nutrition Health Center (India) - said that sitting on the floor is healthier than sitting on a chair, but it may not always be possible.
Try to spend some time sitting on the floor to eat, read, and do floor exercises. This habit also helps improve bone support, posture, spinal health, and reduce back pain.
What should you keep in mind?
You can sit cross-legged or with your legs stretched out or in a simple sukhasana pose, and remember to sit up straight, explains Dr. Yanamandra.
Place a pillow or towel under your hips if you feel tension in your tailbone. Also try changing your position if you spend a lot of time on the floor. Stretch your legs or use some leg support.
