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- Standing desks and active seating have become very popular over the past few years, so there is no shortage of alternative seating for the office.
- Of all the options we researched and tested, the Varier Move Stool is the best. It checks all the boxes with its easy assembly, comfort, posture improvement, and versatility.
You've likely heard it time and time again: sitting is killing us. To make matters worse, studies show that exercise won't undo the damage done from hours of sitting. So if you think you'll combat the time you log in front of the computer screen with a sweaty cycling session or hot yoga class, think again. It does all sound a little dramatic. After all, everyone needs to sit throughout the day, right? While this is true, according to the American Heart Association, it's the prolonged periods of being sedentary that are the most harmful - the type that typically takes place at a desk job.
It's easy to get swept up in a task and lose track of time, and it won't be until a couple of hours have gone by that you realize you've been glued to your computer screen - and your derriere has been stuck to your office chair. What can be done? Standing desks are one option, and there are plenty to choose from. However, standing all day can have its risks as well. Luckily there's another option: Active seating.
This type of seating promotes movement, improves posture, and activates your core while sitting, and some models can work in tandem with a standing desk, so you can find the perfect combination of sitting and standing throughout the day.
It's important to note that active seating is a lot like a new exercise. Since you'll be utilizing your core more than you would in a normal desk chair, it does take some getting used to. You'll want to build up to using your active seat more throughout the day gradually. Below are a few other factors you'll want to consider to find the perfect style of active seating for you.
- Is it easy to assemble? Easy assembly - or no assembly at all - is definitely a plus. The easier it is to assemble, the more quickly you'll be able to start using your new office chair.
- How much cushioning do you want? How much cushioning you need will depend on how often you want to use active seating - if you plan on switching back and forth between active seating and your normal office chair you may not need as much.
- Is it height adjustable? This is especially important if you plan on using a standing desk, or a transitional desk that can go from sitting to standing, so it can be compatible with both.
- How much space will it take up? If you don't have much space to spare, or you travel often and want to take your seat with you, you may want to consider a collapsible or portable style of active seating that you can store when you're not using, and that's easy to pack.
Here is the best active seating you can buy:
- Best active seating overall: Varier Move Stool
- Best active seating to save space: Mogo Seat
- Best active seating for a standing desk: Focal Locus Leaning Seat
- Best affordable active seating: Gaiam Balance Ball Chair
- Best active seating for back pain: Sleekform Atlanta Kneeling Chair
Updated on 6/3/2019 by Les Shu: Updated prices, links, and formatting. Updated the Sleekform Ergonomic Kneeling Chair to the Sleekform Atlanta Kneeling Chair, which is a similar model.
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