Sitting in Place: Yes, It Really Is Exercise

Geezer, no speed-demon himself, has always tried hard to be respectful of those who exercise, as they say, "at their own pace." But what if there is no pace at all? What if, as Karen Voight advises in this piece in the L.A. Times, the allegedly exercising person remains in one place, sitting? Voight, who has never steered us wrong, makes a persuasive case for the power of sitting, which, it turns out it, is not as easy as it sounds. Doubters may try it. Here’s how:
1. Start by sitting on a flat surface with your legs extended in front
of you in line with your hips. Place your palms or fingertips on the
floor next to your hips. Focus on lifting up through the crown of your
head. Activate your legs by lifting your kneecaps up toward your thighs
and moving the backs of your thighs toward the floor. Press down with
your hands to help lift the torso. Hold for 10 to 15 seconds.
2 To further challenge yourself, maintain this position and lift your
arms overhead. Your hands should be shoulder-width apart with your
palms turned inward. Reach upward with your fingertips and thumbs. Keep
your elbows straight and your upper arms next to your ears. (As you
move your arms back, don’t allow your lower ribs to pop out.) Hold for
10 to 15 seconds.