LOSE WEIGHT WITH A ROCKING CHAIR

by | May 22, 2020

If you think I am pulling your leg, read on! You can lose weight by rocking in a chair. Before we get to how much weight, let’s take a little look into the background of the rocking chair.

Many people credit Benjamin Franklin with inventing the rocking chair. Historians beg to differ since they can trace it back to the 1700s. At that time, Franklin would have been only a wee lad. Rockers started first as a simple, improvised chair and were found only in gardens. Over the past 250 or so years, rocking chairs became popular in every country around the world. You often see them indoors in living rooms, the baby’s room, and outdoors on front porches.

What makes them so darned attractive is that in addition to the soothing, rocking motion, your body’s center of gravity changes. When you rock backward, your body is sitting at an angle where it does not feel gravitational stress.

Rocking chair frames are available in many materials, styles, and colors. For indoor and sheltered outdoor areas, standard materials are hardwoods such as oak and teak. Bamboo and other woven materials are also popular. For outdoor, options include plastic resin, HDPE lumber, and injection-molded plastic frames. These are more durable and hold up better in direct sunlight, salty ocean-air areas, and in humid or rainy locations.

We are most familiar with the traditional style of rocker, which has a rounded piece of wood attached to the legs. There is another type of rocker that slides or moves on a stationary base. This type is called a platform, swing, or glider rocker. The motion of the chair simulates rocking but with a smoother movement.

When it comes to style, there are a few from which to choose. An average-sized rocking chair is usually 37 to 45″ high, 26 to 30″ wide, and 32 to 37 ” deep.

A Jefferson rocking chair is a traditional rocker with a higher back. A Presidential rocking chair is arguably the most popular rocking chair design. There is a rocker design named after President Kennedy, who was said to get significant relief from his back pain when he used his. Bentwood rockers are a beautiful design and lightweight. You can get an Adirondack rocking chair with a broader seat and armrests. To make them more easily transportable, you can find foldable ones. Rockers are even available upholstered.

There are two downsides to rockers. The first is that you need a bit of room for them. Since they rock forwards and backward, to avoid them hitting anything, you need to allow more space than a regular chair. The other downside is that if you have pets or children, you want to be cautious that tails, little paws, and feet do not get hurt.

Although we tend to think of gentle rocking motion being soothing to infants, research shows this motion also has benefits to adults. It can help put you to sleep faster and achieve better rest. In some cases, it has reduced the need for pain medication. If you have arthritis or back pain, a rocking chair may be better than a stationary chair since it allows for some joint movement. Blood flow increases when you use a rocking chair. Better blood flow ensures more oxygen gets to your joints. This can help ease the symptoms of arthritis.

The repetitive movement of rocking also eases anxiety, stress, and depression. It triggers the brain to release endorphins, which helps us feel better.

Finally, rocking is also an exercise. Granted, it is not the same as going to the gym and lifting weights or doing a cardio workout. This movement is a non-exercise activity categorized as thermogenesis. You can relax in a rocking chair, and you can also burn an extra 150 calories an hour!

Do you want to burn calories in a rocker? Contact me at sa.novak@solutionsmexico.com for contacts of manufacturers in Mexico who make quality rockers at a reasonable price.

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