Sit less, play more: rethinking the humble chair
Are you sitting too comfortably?! Then I’ll begin…
Last week in the Reclaim Everyday Ease course was our catch-up and consolidation week. There was no live workshop - deliberately so. I know that over an 8-week course, life happens, and it’s easy to fall behind. So I built in a week to revisit and reflect.
But of course, I couldn’t resist adding a little something new! The week’s Your Move Choices videos focused on… wait for it… chairs.
Now, I’d prefer that sitting on one wasn’t the only option (and by this point in the course, it’s hopefully just one of many). But the reality is that we’re not getting rid of chairs any time soon, even if I’d quite like to! So rather than blame them, why not use them differently? Instead of a place where our bodies switch off and our muscles snooze, a chair can become a surprisingly versatile movement tool.
I shared ways to sit more actively, without slumping into the backrest, and how that small change can help you engage your core and breathe more efficiently. I also showed how to turn the chair into your new best movement buddy: something to move with, not just on. From mini stretches while seated to strength and balance moves beside it, there are plenty of ways to sneak in a few extra moments of mobility throughout your day.
But then I started thinking, what if we took it further? What if we looked at the chair as a chance to get creative, add variety and maybe even a bit of fun?
Here are a few fun ideas to get you started:
Laptop low-down. No standing desk? Try using the chair as a laptop stand and sit on the floor with your keyboard on a chopping board. You’ll naturally shift positions more and give your hips a new challenge.
Change your perch. Kneel on it, squat on it, or sit backwards with your arms resting across the back. Different positions wake up different muscles.
Chair limbo. Balance a broom handle across two chairs for a limbo or duck-under challenge; the more ways you move, the better! Put the chairs either side of a doorway so you have to duck under every time you pass. Anyone up for an office version? If you did, I guarantee everyone would have happier hips by the end of the day!
Mini mountain. Use a sturdy chair for step-ups and slow, controlled step-downs; a brilliant way to build leg and hip strength. Position two chairs facing each other on either side of a doorframe so you’ve no choice but to traverse them. Hold the backs for balance if you need.
Chair islands. Scatter them around as “safe spots” and try reaching or stepping from one to the next - remember, the floor is boiling hot lava!
If you find yourself hesitating, thinking, ‘What would people think?’ - that’s your cue to pause and ask yourself instead, ‘Is holding back my movement (and my fun) really the better option?’
Because the moment you give yourself permission to move differently, you’ll often find others want to join you. And that’s when movement starts to spread as something contagious, joyful and alive.
That’s really what Reclaim Movement is all about
…helping people rediscover that movement doesn’t have to feel like a chore or a checklist. When we bring back curiosity and play, movement stops being something we have to do and becomes something we want to do.
One of my clients, Beth, summed it up beautifully when she said:
“Wendy’s approach has helped me reconnect with my body in ways that feel natural, joyful, and sustainable.”
That’s exactly how I want movement to feel for everyone; not forced, but freeing; not repetitive, but real.
If that resonates with you, and you’re ready to reclaim movement that feels like you, I’d love to help you get started. You can explore my courses and classes at Reclaim Movement or get in touch to chat about what might suit you best at wendy@reclaimmovement.co.uk.
PS - if you’d like more ideas like these - both fun and more practical to add more movement into your daily life, pre-order my book that’s being published on 1st January 2026. Move Well for Life: Unlock the Life-Changing Power of Everyday Movement by Wendy Welpton
