Can you get up from a sand chair without grunting like tennis
star Maria Sharapova?
While on vacation, I sat
on the beach watching people haul themselves up from their sand chairs emitting
all kinds of animal-like sounds accompanied by comical facial contortions. The
big Uhh! resounded in the sea air as some pressed their hands on the arms of
their canvas seat, as if performing a tricep press. Honestly, it doesn’t have to be so difficult
to raise yourself from a few inches above the sand. If you rely on your core
strength, especially that of your glutteals (buttocks, butt, bum, tush whatever
you want to call it) and your thigh muscles, you really can lift yourself
gracefully. Others will gaze at you with admiration, silently congratulate you
for your strength and ease and wish they could do the same. Wouldn’t that make
you feel terrific? And how about those low to the ground lounge chairs that
don’t even have arms? You really don’t want to topple off the end as you
attempt to stand up with the chair flipping over your back. And I doubt you
want to fall to your knees on the sand and then hold on to the edge of the
plastic webbing and force yourself into an upright position. Yes, you always can rely on a friend to give
you a helping hand, but what if you’re on the beach by yourself enjoying the
sun, listening to the sound of the waves as you devour a good novel? Are you
going to ask a stranger to help lift you off your chair? I doubt it. So, let’s
take a look at how to use your core to gracefully come to a standing position
from low down near the sand.
Of course, this post is assuming you have both of your legs
in full working order. A little arthritis shouldn’t change anything. Actually,
it should make you try a little harder to use your core and not rely on your
arms. A friend of mine who ‘d recently had a knee replacement shocked herself
when she followed my directions and actually stood up without huge grunts and
groans or falling face-down into the sand.
I assume you would
like to be able to get off a chair, by yourself, for the rest of your life. And
not only a sand chair – any kind of chair. And how about a toilet? OK, let’s not
go with that image, although it is a reality.
I know there is an easy answer to all this. You might be
saying, “Who needs to go through all those maneuvers? Why not just buy an
up-right chair?” Sure, you can do that.
But, in my opinion, they’re just not as comfortable. I tried one and didn’t
like the fact that there was no place to rest my head and no way to recline.
Oh! The trials of sitting on the beach…
Back to fitness: For exercises to strengthen your core, I
invite you to read some of my previous blog posts: 1/28/12, 5/18/12, 11/16/12. But even without
doing that, tighten those bellies and bums, use your thighs and lift yourself
from a seated position to standing one with aplomb.
So, lather yourself in sunscreen, grab a good book, your chair and sunglasses, and head to the beach. Enjoy!
No comments:
Post a Comment