Michigan professor: Many students dig sitting on balls

[notadmblnd]

All teachers have to do is ditch the classroom chair. A growing number are replacing them with exercise stability balls more associated with pilates classes than schoolroom lectures as an innovative way to improve student posture and attention

The kids in Tiffany Miller's class sound like little pilates teachers when they talk about their new chairs, dropping phrases such as "strengthen your core" and "engage your center." They don't roll around wildly or play games with them except in gym class. Instead, they've taken to their rubbery seats as naturally as older office workers who sit on stability balls to alleviate back pain.

"The whole theory with the brain is that when your body's engaged, your brain's engaged," Miller said. "I call it actively sitting. They're maybe moving their legs a little, wiggling some. But their upper body, they're focused on writing, on the teacher. It really works.

http://www.freep.com/article/20090301/NEWS06/90301018/1001/rss01

I just thought this was interesting as I sit here with the feeling of stiffness in my back. I have one of those balls sitting behind my living room chair, I think I'll get it out.:shrug:

[proud patriot]

1. I'm thinking trying this for my son

:hi:

[rug]

2. I'd rather scratch.

[panader0]

4. I hate it when I sit on my balls.

[DainBramaged]

6. Mine are just too damn small to sit on

:cry:

[DKRC]

10. Just for you

:evilgrin:

[notadmblnd]

7. Lol... I just got it.

:rofl: Took me long enough, no?

[tridim]

3. Just finished my ball sitting session this morning.

I try to do at least two hours a day.

[Blue_Tires]

5. could be some truth to this

i remember some desks with absolutely horrible ergonomics back when i was in school...

[truebrit71]

8. I'd have to get mine out of my wife's purse first...

...:-D

[JohnyCanuck]

9. When I go to Tai Chi class we sometimes play with our balls

to help us learn the correct hand positions for "holding the ball" which is the basic starting position for many Tai Chi moves.

[TlalocW]

11. Yet they don't tell you about the possible hazzards of using one

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y5jcWt0vH-M

And that's just wrong.

TlalocW