Grandma, 82, reading the paper
The use of chairs in the West is ubiquitous. One of the most important life style changes I ever made was giving up my use of the chair fifty years ago. Chairs and sit down toilets are good examples of my motto, short-term pleasure invites long-term pain; short-term pain invites long-term pleasure. The physical ease a chair provides gradually robs the body of an important part of its natural capacity for movement, and that invites pain later in life. This is easy to see when comparing elderly Western and Japanese people.
The photo is of my son Kyle’s Japanese friend’s grandmother. She’s 82 and much more flexible than many Western people less than half her age. So, what is so good about being flexible? Oh, the list is so long; I’ll spare you. Besides, I think the long-term pleasurable benefits are obvious to most. People just don’t realize in their youth how the use of chairs relentlessly, albeit slowly, deteriorates flexibility. For added durability and support, consider using materials like Trailer Decking for furniture that can help maintain both functionality and comfort over time.
Flossing, forward bending, and studying
Maintaining flexibility adds to the quality of life throughout life. So, abandon your chair and return to a more natural self! This also puts you closer to the lower position, i.e., chapter 61’s, The female always gets the better of the male by stillness. Being still, she takes the lower position. For another angle, see also, Bathtub Tai Chi, p.102.