Boing, boing, boing, boing… holding on grimly to the two rubber antennae as you bounce around the garden or beach, whooping with excitement on that toy bouncing ball. Inevitably you fall off course, never mind and you quickly jump back on and start again.

Did you ever have one of those bouncy balls as a kid? I know I did and yet I never imagined exercise balls might be used one day by people as office chairs.

What is an exercise ball chair?

Evolution Ball Chair

Exercise balls have been around for many years now and they are popular with people who want to keep fit and toned.

They are very resilient and extremely easy to use, you just need to inflate them and then you’re all set.

Some people just use the ball on its own as a chair, however I don’t think that’s a good idea.

If you plan to use one, it’s best go for a proper exercise ball chair and these days they are very popular with office workers.

Why have they taken off and what persuades people to use them
I think the biggest reason they are so popular as office seats is mainly down to the fact that some people are heartily fed up with the discomfort of their office chair. This is almost always due to the fact that they have only ever used cheap crappy chairs and so assume that all chairs are uncomfortable. They read about how wonderful ball chairs are and all the healthy benefits and decide to take the plunge.

Is an exercise ball a healthy office seat alternative?
Many people switching to a ball chair do so because they believe it is a healthier way to sit. However, the benefits of sitting on one and the health advantages of using it as a means of exercise, tend to become blurred.
Sitting on an exercise ball alone is not advisable because it requires you full attention in keeping balanced. As soon as your concentration lapses you may very well find yourself on the deck. This is particularly true when first getting used to one.

If you really like the idea of an exercise ball chair, much better to choose one that includes a frame as it has a number of benefits.

Advantages of a ball chair

• They are very simple to use you only need inflate it to suit your body size
• Cost effective and generally much cheaper than a good office chair
• Very resilient and can take heavy users who may weigh 350lbs or more
• Safe as an office chair provided it is the sort made for use as a chair
• The ball can be removed and used as a means of exercise

Disadvantages of a ball chair

• Some users have stability problems with them especially at first
• Need to build up your core muscles for prolonged use
• It can be difficult to maintain good back posture on models without back supports
• Maneuverability can be more difficult than a conventional office chair
• Many ergonomists are deeply skeptical about their benefits

Is an exercise ball a good choice as an office chair?
As you have seen there are advantages and disadvantages in using an exercise ball as your office chair. A ball on its own is not a good idea, it just isn’t stable enough or practical in use. However, when you go for a proper ball chair with its own frame they can make good office seats. Best to go for one with castors, arms and a back because you’ll find it a lot of easier to use.

And bear in mind, it may well take some time for your core muscles to build up. So be patient and get used to it gradually by sitting in it for short periods to begin with. After all, you don’t want one of those boing, boing, bang moments from childhood, office floors and desk edges can be quite unforgiving.

Further reading
Many ergonomists don’t recommend using ball chairs, you can read about their reasons here. And if you want to know more about what’s available here’s where you can find some reviews of ball chairs.

So what’s the big deal with an office chair mechanism?

Imagine you had a large lawn that needed to be mowed every week in summer, it’s unlikely you would use a push mower. Its lack of flexibility would make your task unbearable as you huffed and puffed cutting it.

Well the wrong mechanism can easily land you in a similar situation and make your working day intolerable.

In this article we’re going to take a look at what controls every office chair – the chair mechanism.

Here are the 3 areas we’re focusing on:

• What exactly is an office chair mechanism?
• What functions on an office chair mechanism are vital?
• What types of office chair mechanisms should you avoid?

Let’s begin with the mechanism itself, the chair’s gearbox.

What exactly is an office chair mechanism?

Office Chair Mechanism On Underside Of HÅG Chair

The mechanism is the heart of any office chair, quite simply it is the means by which the core functions of your chair are controlled.

It’s mounted underneath the chair seat and because it’s hidden from view most people never give it a second thought.

Which is just as well because they can look pretty strange.

Seating manufacturers generally do a pretty poor job in explaining what the different functions of a mechanism are for. They assume that because they know what the various types do that there is no need to explain things to the end user. So let’s cut through the different types of mechanism and look at what matters.

What chair mechanism functions must you insist on?
Mechanisms come with all sorts of features, some are essential and some are useless. Very often the things you need for flexible working are the functions most often missing.

Which ones do you really need? It’s safe to say all mechanisms will let you adjust the height of your chair, that’s a given. Aside of this there are 3 essential functions you need to insist on.

First, you need to make sure that the chair reclines properly meaning that when you lean back in it the back reclines too. Often chairs have a lever that locks the back in different preset positions. If you are using your chair for working actively at your computer this is not a good idea because you will soon feel seized up and stuck in a fixed position.

Next, and hugely important the chair needs to include a tilt tension control so it can adapt properly to your posture as you move. What this does is to allow you to set the pressure applied when you lean back and forwards in your chair. Quite simply it lets you set up the chair for your own weight so that reclining is natural and not forced.

Lastly, and most important of all the chair’s controller needs to include a seat slide mechanism to take account of your leg length. Without it short built users can find themselves perched on the edge of the seat unable to rest their back on the seat’s back.

Taller people have the opposite problem. Their legs overhang the seat edge by miles even though their back is hard up against the chair’s back. And even when you are average built things like upper and lower leg length variation still mean you shouldn’t skip this key adjustment.

What types of office chair mechanisms should you avoid?
Steer clear of any mechanism which only has a single lever control. It’s lack of flexibility will quickly drive you nuts, because all you will be able to do is raise and lower your seat and if you’re lucky lean back to a limited degree.

And don’t fall for chairs that come with more levers and knobs than you might find on an airliner. Lots of controls don’t automatically lead to flexibility and comfort, the right controls are what matter.

So, make sure it does what you need. Don’t assume because it has loads of paddles and buttons it must be OK, always check.

Here are the key points we’ve covering in this article:

• What exactly is an office chair mechanism?
• Why certain functions on an office chair mechanism are key
• Why some types of office chair mechanisms are a mistake and should be avoided

Here’s where you can find a quick summary of great office chairs that include the vital functions you need so you don’t end up with a push mower model.

What deals are available?
Herman Miller, Steelcase & Humanscale are all running Thanksgiving Sale Specials with a chance to grab up to an extra 15% off all their office chairs. Miller and Humanscale are offering a 15% saving with Steelcase giving 10%.

This is a great chance to get a top deal on a wide range of high quality ergonomic office chairs

How long do they last?
Each manufacturer’s sale has slightly different dates.

Herman Miller starts their sale today finishing on Monday 12 December 2011
Steelcase starts Thursday 24 November and runs for 1 week until Wednesday 30 November 2011.
Humanscale’s sale starts on Friday 25 November and ends on Monday 12 December 2011

Where can I find the details?
You can find a quick summary of the key points about some of the best chairs on offer using the links below:

Herman Miller Chairs
Aeron chair
Embody chair
Sayl chair
Mirra chair

Steelcase Chairs
Think chair
Amia chair
Leap chair

Humanscale Chairs
Freedom chair
Liberty Chair
Freedom Saddle Seat

So, if you are ready for a new chair this is an excellent opportunity to lock in a great price. Don’t leave it too long because the special pricing will soon be finished.

Body builders frequently put themselves through a punishing regime of exercises and weight lifting routines. They often take a range of supplements, sometimes even steroids in their quest for a fabulous physique. And once they start it’s very difficult to stop because if you don’t keep it up all that magnificent muscle quickly turns to flab.

Relax, you don’t need to worry because office exercise isn’t like this at all.

Why do exercises in the office?
Many people might think that it is odd to exercise in the office. Surely if you want to work out you go to the gym? So, let’s be clear I’m not talking about some super heavy training session that’s not the reason to exercise in the office. The idea of exercising during the day is not to keep you physically fit. Instead it’s a case of little and often, rather than a mega pumping iron session it’s more like a short limber up.

How often should you exercise during office hours?
There is no hard and fast rule, however the basic idea is to perform simple routines throughout the day. It’s a good idea to do so every 30 minutes or so, at least once an hour if you can.

The reason for this is that when you leave it too long between routines muscles become fatigued and tired and so don’t respond in the same way. In fact, if they become chronically fatigued it can work against you and just aggravate tired muscles.

So try to make sure you do your routines every 30 to 60 minutes to prevent muscles from becoming damaged and needing attention from physios and chiropractors.

How fit do you need to be to do office exercises?
In truth you don’t need to be some super fit athlete. As long as you are reasonably healthy and don’t have any known issues there shouldn’t be a problem.

One of the benefits of doing simple exercise routines is that over a period of time they will likely improve your muscle tone. So, if you’re healthy there really is no excuse.

Who should do exercises in the office?
If your work involves long periods of sitting particularly at a computer then you will benefit most from regular exercise routines. Even when you do have a more active office life it’s still a good idea to exercise anyway. The simple act of stretching and getting muscles working will benefit almost anyone.

Obviously, if you are receiving medical treatment or taking medication and you are in any doubt you should always check with your physician first. It’s best to be sure that performing exercises won’t cause you any problems.

What exercise should you do in the office?
There are many quick and easy exercises you can do while doing office work, some of them can even be done while you are sitting down. Here is a quick summary of the most beneficial ones.

Stand up straight with you feet slightly apart and toes pointing forwards. Next, place your hands behind your back with each palm resting on the top of your buttocks. Finally press your hands on your body and lean back forming a backwards arc, hold the stretch for 5 to 10 seconds. Repeat this 3 times.

Another good standing exercise is to stand upright with feet slightly apart and hands with palms against the sides of your legs. Next, take your left arm and raise it in an arc over your head and stretch your left hand side as you pull the arm further over to your right. At the same time let your right arm remain in contact with your leg and let it slide downwards as the stretch progresses. Do the same for the right arm and repeat twice for both arms.

Whilst sitting and facing forwards, tuck your chin in towards your neck and use one of your hands to press it in further to stretch the muscles at the back of the neck. Hold this for 5 seconds and repeat it 3 times. Following this place your hands at the rear of your head and pull your head gently downwards holding for 3 seconds.

Another good exercise for the neck muscles is to start with your head pointing forwards while sitting. Next turn your head towards your left shoulder as though you were looking behind and hold this position for about 15 seconds. Repeat this twice for both left and right hand side.

Lastly again facing forwards interlock your fingers and raise your arms with your interlocked hands resting on the back of your head. From this position press your arms back as though you were trying to push your elbows behind you. This is a good stretch to counteract all the forward facing use your shoulders get during the day.

These are just some of the simple routines you can perform throughout the day and the good thing is they take very little time to do and yet are so beneficial for your muscles and posture. You can find more ideas here.

Let’s quickly summarize the key points about exercises in the office.

• Regular exercises help keep muscles toned and in good working order
• Aim to exercise every 30 to 60 minutes during the day
• Peak fitness isn’t necessary, just being reasonably fit is fine
• Anyone who spends a lot of time sitting should exercise frequently
• Use the simple exercises above to keep your body healthy

Like a lot things it’s all about developing healthy habits and once you exercise on a regular basis you’ll begin to feel the benefits it brings, without the need for any punishing regime. You’ll find there are a lot of great videos on YouTube showing office exercise ideas.

Many people’s idea of the perfect work seat is a leather office chair. And that’s understandable because they certainly look great. And yet there are 3 things you need to bear mind with leather office chairs that can cause you problems. I learned them the hard way, but more on that later.

In this article we’re going to look at 3 reasons why a leather office chair isn’t always the best option.

• 1. How slip sliding causes problems with leather chairs
• 2. Why a leather chair can create premature wear on clothes
• 3. Why a leather chair can be bad news in hot weather

But first here’s how I found out the hard way.
Some years ago my company won a prestigious office fit out for a major company and the chief executive wanted a leather chair. As we had just taken on a new range of quality office seating we decided to supply him with the best office chair in the range in black hide leather.

The chair looked beautiful, so we were confident he would be delighted with it. He had only had the chair 2 days when he rang to complain about it and how he just couldn’t sit still in it and insisted on it being replaced. I inherited the chair and soon found out it was like sitting on a greasy pole.

Why was there a slip-sliding problem with that top end chair?
The leather on the chair was a really good quality hide and was a smooth finish, without a deep grain in it. And this is how I soon discovered why the client had had such a problem with it. Because the finish was so lustrous it offered very little friction and as a result it was difficult to hold your sitting position in it.

However, the worst part was when working at a computer because it had a forward tilt mechanism designed to place the user’s body in a slightly forward posture. It literally had the effect of forcing you out of the seat and if it wasn’t for the desk edge I really think you could have ended up on the floor.

Leather offers little resistance and can make it awkward to hold a sitting position and this also leads to the next problem, shiny clothes.

How a leather chair can cause premature wear on clothes
Because many leathers have a smooth finish there is little resistance between the seat’s surface and your clothes.

Consequently you tend to move around more while working in the chair. Unfortunately this can have the effect of polishing your clothes causing them to wear a lot more quickly. If you like to wear expensive clothing to work be aware that it may not last as long with a leather chair. Summer can bring about an additional problem with leather office chairs.

Why leather can be bad news in hot weather
Although some leathers are designed to breathe in use, many aren’t. And so if you work in an office that isn’t air-conditioned it can add further to your discomfort because it will soon have you sweating on long hot summer days. So if you are prone to sweat easily bear in mind a leather office chair may not be a good idea.

Let’s summarize the 3 key points to bear in mind with leather office chairs.

• 1. Smooth leathers can be difficult to sit in making it hard work to sit comfortably
• 2. Leather often causes premature wear on clothes
• 3. Leather in hot weather can cause embarrassing perspiration problems

And what about that top of the range leather chair I inherited? I persevered with it for a couple of weeks before giving it up as a bad job and relegating it to retirement in the warehouse.

If you’re still hankering after a leather office chair because you love the idea of owning one, take a look at Humanscale’s Freedom chair in Vincenza leather hide with a breathable finish.

Aeron Mesh Chair - Herman Miller

Imagine it’s another red hot July day. You have been sitting at your desk for several hours.

When you go to get up, your body sticks to the office chair through your lightweight summer clothing.

You are sweating, even though the air conditioning is set to a temperature only experienced in the Arctic. How can this be?

The thick upholstery is the culprit. Combined with the foam padding, which acts as insulation, the material is trapping your body heat against your body.

So you sweat. Fortunately there is an answer to the problem.

How did mesh upholstery change the office chair market?
The idea of a mesh office chair really started back in the early 1990s with Herman Miller’s Aeron chair. It took a radically different approach to office chair design and key amongst its new ideas was open mesh upholstery called the pellicle.

The major benefit of this new form of upholstery was that it allowed air circulation around the user’s body and so kept them cool on hot summer days.

This quickly prompted competitors to come up with their own version of mesh upholstery and now wherever you look you see them. Many are designed to be Aeron lookalikes due to its popularity.

Why are mesh chairs so popular?
People like the idea of a chair which allows air to circulate and keep them cool. Also the stylish looks of mesh chairs enhance their appeal too.

It’s these feature that have made Miller’s Aeron one of the most desired office chairs of all time. The problem is that not everyone can afford its $600 price tag.

Consequently when competitors churn out cheaper me too versions it opens up the market for people to experience the benefits of keeping cool at work.

However you have to realize that the upholstery on a $100 mesh chair is a far cry from the quality of the Aeron’s pellicle. Good air circulation is one thing, however without proper support it’s not a good idea.

How do you select a good mesh office chair?
One of the mistakes people make is buying a mesh chair just for its looks. The problem is it’s very easy to make them look sexy and whilst it’s fair to say that any mesh will allow better air circulation that’s of little use if it’s uncomfortable and doesn’t give the right support to your body.

A number of manufacturers have invested a lot of time and money to come up with advanced mesh designs which give the correct support and still allow good air circulation.

Humanscale’s Liberty chair is a good example; it uses special triple membrane open mesh upholstery. Not only do you get the benefits of keeping cool on hot days you also gain proper support enabling you to work long hours in comfort. There are some people who may find mesh upholstery is not for them.

When is a mesh chair a bad choice?
People who like a chair with a lot of padding may find the change to mesh difficult. The reason is that it tends to be a much firmer surface to sit on. This is particularly true of the Aeron, its pellicle really is quite firm and takes some getting used to.

Lighter framed people are the most likely to feel discomfort. Because they have less flesh to cushion them, mesh can quickly become uncomfortable to sit in. So if you are light built and find sitting on hard surfaces uncomfortable you could have problems.

One alternative is to consider a seat like Herman Miller’s Embody. Although this isn’t a mesh chair it uses a breathable fabric and has a unique method of support. When you sit on it you feel as though you are floating. This removes the harsh pressure found with some meshes while allowing good personal comfort for those who sweat a lot.

Let’s quickly round up the points we’ve covered:

• Mesh chairs all began with the Aeron
• Although cheap mesh chairs abound they often have lousy body support
• Go beyond just looks; choose a mesh which will support you properly
• If you like well padded seats mesh may not be for you

Here’s where you can find more on mesh chairs like the Aeron and Humanscale Liberty chair, as well as alternative solutions like the Embody.

Avoid Halloween Horror Chairs

Just a few days from now it will be Halloween and families will be having parties with kids enjoying their tricks and treats. Fortunately it’s all just harmless fun and folks have a great time as the nightmares are only make believe.

If you are looking to replace your office chair you need to avoid making for real Halloween mistakes. Because if you get it wrong the ghouls will be with you every minute you sit in your new chair.

It’s actually very easy to be sucked in by what seems like a great office chair. When you are shopping in your local office supplies store chances are you may be tempted by the glitzy display of office seating. And when you sit in the sample chair it feels comfortable too. That’s not surprising, when you’ve been wandering around for a while it’s nice to take the weight off your feet, so it likely will feel welcoming.

It’s only when you’ve used a chair for an hour or two that its limitations become all too clear.

In this article we’re going to take a look at 3 key ways of avoiding buying the wrong office chair

• Buying a chair with no tension adjustment
• Buying a chair with fixed arms
• Buying a chair solely on price

So let’s look at the first problem.

Don’t buy a chair which lacks tension adjustment
When you spend all day working in a desk chair it’s only natural that you want to relax and recline every now and then. Many cheap chairs have no way of altering the pressure required as you lean back in them.

What you get is a preset tension based on the manufacturer’s best guess on what’s right. You might get lucky, however for many it soon becomes a nightmare.

Light framed people find themselves gripping the chair arms and straining to get the thing to go back. And as soon as you relax the damn thing flips you forward again.

Heavy built people have the opposite problem. The chair just lurches backward without warning threatening to pitch you on the floor.

So, make sure any chair you’re thinking of buying let’s you adjust the tilt tension. Some automatically adjust to suit your weight but you won’t find this feature on budget chairs.

Onto the next rule.

Don’t buy a chair with fixed arms
The right arms on an office chair are important. Humans all come in different sizes and it simply isn’t possible to cater for individual preferences with a fixed arm.

You need to make sure the arms on your chair are height adjustable. That way you can set them so your lower arms are comfortably supported with you shoulders resting naturally.

Some arms have additional features like being able to move them forwards, backwards or in and out. These arms are often called highly adjustable and the added features can be useful.

And the last rule.

Never buy an office chair just because it’s cheap
More often than not cheap office chairs turn out to be a very poor bargain in the long run. Occasionally there is an opportunity to get a genuine reduction on a quality chair, maybe a discontinued range or ex showroom item. And that’s fine.

However, what you must avoid is chairs priced around $100 or less. The reason is simple. Chairs like this are made to meet a price point. The only thing on the maker’s mind is how it can cut costs to meet the price. There are a lot of things in a task chair you can’t see and this is where corners get cut.

Low quality seat foam that goes flatter than a squashed ant after a couple months use.
Poor quality steel components that quickly wear and become sloppy or break altogether.
Cheap upholstery that just doesn’t last.

Buying on price alone truly is a false economy tempting as it may seem.

So to save yourself from horror chairs:

• Make sure the chair has tension adjustment to let you relax easily when you need to
• Fixed arms rarely give good support; make sure you can adjust the height of the arms
• Don’t buy solely on price; it’s a false economy which you will quickly regret.

Make these part of your selection criteria and your chair won’t haunt you the rest of the year.

Here’s a useful video and article on the key features that make up a proper ergonomic office chair to help point you in the right direction.

Of course there’s nothing wrong with using an office chair with fixed arms. What’s the big deal? As long as I’ve got somewhere to rest my arms that’s OK isn’t it? Well, yes if you’re very lucky it might be but the odds aren’t good.

Why fixed arms on an office chair are never a good idea
Even today with all the awareness about potential problems with Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI) and carpal tunnel issues fixed arms are still the norm on many office chairs. This inflexible way of working is not good for as number of reasons.

First, most fixed arm designs are based more on coming up with a sexy shape than what they should do – support your arms and shoulders properly. Some have straight tops while others drop away alarmingly at the front, but hey they look cool.

Second, they are usually made from rigid hard plastic and are just plain uncomfortable to use.

Third, little or no thought goes into the design of them in terms of their height. It’s really all a bit of a lottery as to whether they are right for you. We are all unique and so a fixed arm can never work for more than a small minority of users.

It’s not a good idea to rely on luck that a fixed arm will be right for you. What can you do to find a better solution to fixed arms?

A simple step up adds loads of flexibility
Fortunately many chairs now come with standard adjustable arms and this is a major improvement for your comfort and proper arm support.

There’s nothing particularly revolutionary about this sort of arm. Quite simply they quickly adjust up and down, normally by about 3 to 6 inches. Straight away you’re able to set the arm height at the right height for your own personal comfort. For the vast majority of people standard adjustable arms are all you need. A number of manufacturers offer even more arm choices.

Adding further comfort refinements
One option you will always find worthwhile is selecting padded arms if available. These include foam padding on the arm tops and greatly increase comfort for the underside of your lower arms. Others are made with a soft plastic on the arm tops, however this isn’t quite as effective as foam.

The next level of arm is often referred to as highly adjustable arms. These will have added functions and can include some or all of these features:

• Tops that can be angled in and out for a wider range of arm support
• Tops that slide backwards and forwards – useful for getting closer to your desk
• Arms that can be adjusted in width to give your shoulders better aligned support
• Arms that can be temporarily moved out of the way effectively making your chair armless

Is there a case for having no arms on your chair?
Most people find they need arms on their chair. However this isn’t universal. If you prefer to work in a chair with no arms there’s no reason why you shouldn’t. Office workers who spend a lot of time typing and keying in data frequently find it preferable to work in close at their desk.

Effectively the desktop provides support for the user’s arms instead of the chair. In fact when you work up close to your desk many chair arms can actually hit the desk edge and prevent you working in this way.

Let’s quickly summarize the key point we’ve covered here.

• Fixed arms are inflexible and uncomfortable
• Getting fixed arms of the right height is a lottery
• Height adjustable arms make it easy to set the arms where you need them
• Padded arm tops will greatly enhance your working comfort
• Highly adjustable arms have many useful refinements

Here’s where you can find a summary of office chairs with adjustable arms. Some of them have highly adjustable arms with great additional functions to enhance working comfort.

Imagine you splash out on a new office chair with all the latest gizmos and adjustments. It really looks the part, initially you’re really pleased with it. It’s definitely a big improvement on the old one. And yet after a couple of months you’re starting to find those niggling aches and pains are coming back. How so?

Why poor sitting habits cause you discomfort
Very often the reason an office chair becomes uncomfortable is not wholly down to the chair. It’s often as a result of not sitting properly in it. And the thing is it’s actually far easier to sit badly in a chair than it is to sit well. Maybe you remember the old adage of sitting upright that your parents and teachers drummed into you when you were growing up. Somehow it doesn’t appear to help.

Why sitting up straight doesn’t work
On the face of it sitting up straight seems like a good idea. The reality is that you’re forcing your body into an unnatural posture when you try and sit up straight. What happens is you tend to overarch your back and this then overcorrects the placement of your spine and bones forcing them into a forced uncomfortable posture. The initial set up when you sit down is what matters.

It’s all down to them bones
The base of your pelvis has a bony protrusion on each side called the ischial tuberosity. Or in plain English the sitting or sitz bones. The way these bones are positioned is vital for your sitting comfort. If you place your hands under your buttocks as you sit down you should feel the bony protrusion of your sitz bones. As you sit try pulling them into alignment so that you are sitting on the bones. This then sets up your pelvis correctly for sitting and you will find that the rest of your supporting bones will line up properly as a result. When everything is correctly arranged it’s easy to sit in comfort. Get it wrong and pain is never far away.

How poor sitting habits cause you discomfort
Where most people get it wrong is they sit on the back of their pelvis and so the sitting bones don’t get used. What happens is the spine starts to become rounded. It has a knock on effect as it rotates your shoulders and places your head forwards.

And it’s the poor postural alignment that quickly begins to inflict pain on the body as everything is working under strain. Unlike the natural support you get with the correct placement of the sitz bones. Because we’re not used to sitting correctly many find it difficult to achieve and need a helping hand.

How a simple wedge can transform your posture

The Wedge For Aligning Sitting Bones

Posture expert Kathleen Porter is well aware of the trouble people have with being able to sit correctly, especially after they’ve spent many years sitting the wrong way.

She has come up with a neat little posture corrector called the Wedge. And if you’re thinking that you’ve tried seat wedges before and they don’t work this is a little different.

Most seat wedges take up the whole of the seat and that’s where Kathleen’s wedge is unusual. It’s much smaller and can literally be carried anywhere.

It’s designed to change your posture in a way that realigns the rear part of your bottom. It quickly places your sitz bones in the correct position. What you do is to place the wedge at the rear of your buttocks and as you sit down you lift and shuffle your left and right buttock in turn to align the sitz bones correctly. Once your sitting properly the wedge keeps your posture correctly aligned.

Of course if you chair is worn out and needs to be replaced the wedge won’t magically make your chair better. Although it will probably help if sitting is intolerable.

Wrapping up
Let’s quickly look at what we’ve covered here:
It’s not always the fault of your office chair that you suffer discomfort
Sitting rigidly up straight is unnatural and won’t improve your posture
You need to learn how to sit and use your sitz bones
Using a device like the wedge can greatly assist you to sit healthily

So before you decide to replace your chair with one with all those cool new features, take time to see if you are sitting correctly. You’ll need to persevere to make it a habit as you unlearn the way you have previously been sitting. Here’s where you can find more details on the wedge to help you achieve good sitting posture.

Eames Classic Leather Chair

80 years ago no man would have left the house without wearing a hat. These days it’s hard to imagine doing such a thing.

And yet, for those who choose to wear a classic hat today, it definitely makes a statement about the wearer.

The right hat can look very distinctive and really set the owner apart from the crowd. Classic office chairs are a bit like that.

What is a classic office chair?
It’s simply a chair which has sold well over a period of many years. Manufacturers decide to keep some models in production as they have already written off the cost of tooling and so can continue to make the product relatively cheaply.

Typically, classic office seats have very simple lines and as a result continue to look impressive regardless of current fashions and designs.

How does an office chair reach classic status?
Usually it’s because they have a certain timeless quality about them. They often feature in advertising or are used in reception areas where people like to use them to give an air of quality and good taste to surroundings.

Obviously from the manufacturer’s point of view there still needs to be demand for them and so this a key motivation for the main players in this area of the seating market.

Which companies continue to make classic chairs?
There are two companies most closely associated with classic office chairs, Herman Miller and Knoll. Although Herman Miller is probably best known for its Aeron chair, it actually continues to make a number of seats first launched in the 1950s and earlier.

Particularly popular are many of the chairs designed by Charles and Ray Eames who seemed to have a knack for designing seating with simple classic lines that just look good no matter what era they appear in.

Knoll’s classic designs go back even further to the 1930s. And the Barcelona chair designed by architect Mies van der Rohe still has a huge following. It can be found in many reception areas because it just looks so good in this environment with its chrome and black leather. Mind you it takes deep pockets to own one.

Why are classic chairs so expensive?
I suppose one of the reasons they cost so much is the companies producing them aren’t under any pressure to sell then cheaply. They are seen as a status symbol and so there is a certain snobbery or cachet about them.

Also, whilst the tooling costs have long been absorbed it probably does create a level of disruption on the production line where high volume models are being made. Of course if you are prepared to turn a blind eye you can save a lot of money.

Should you consider buying a lookalike version?
Inevitably, other manufacturers turn out fake versions at a fraction of the cost of the genuine article. Some of them are very good and you would be hard pressed to tell the difference unless you looked really closely at them. Others are extremely poor quality with inferior leather and poor standards of workmanship and are best avoided.

Summary
So, to summarize the points I’ve covered, here’s a quick resume of the key points

• Classic chairs have a certain timeless quality and can create a positive image
• It’s worth companies to continue offering them because they can get profitable sales
• They can make important areas in offices really stand out from the crowd
• The genuine article will set you back a considerable sum of money
• It’s possible to buy good quality alternatives if you are not too choosy

Classic office chairs will continue to be offered both now and in the future and yet others will become classics, if they haven’t done so already. Herman Miller’s Aeron chair will surely be added to their ranks and become the seating equivalent of a homburg hat.

Here’s where you can find more information on some great classic chairs which will probably still be being made 100 years from now.