COMPUTER COMFORT

Paul Linden (2000). Comfort At Your Computer: 

                                 Body Awareness Training for 

                                Pain Free Computer Use.


Linden is a PhD in physical education, holds a black belt in Aikido, and developed the Being in Movement mind-body training (he has a free e-bok called Reach Up on body awareness training: https://www.being-in-movement.com/resources/).

the essence of the book is to FEEL your body...ware of when and where there is discomfort and gently moving in ways that promote stability, comfort and well-being...there are many exercises to try out on nearly every other page of the book.


practically, everyone can take advantage of Linden's advice...take rest breaks and movement breaks often when working...there are 5 second, 3 minute, and 20 minute rest and movement exercises...for instance, palming the eyes takes only a few seconds and is quite relaxing, and gentle and slow arm, leg, and neck movements can revitalize energy quickly...

i found the most comfortable sitting posture for working at the computer to be: sitting on a solid chair with the pelvis rolled forward (almost like you were to sit on your genitals), hips just slightly higher than the knees, sitting on the two "sit bones" of your bottom with legs generously apart and feet flat on the floor, a loosely rolled bath towel is positioned nearly under the tailbone for spine support, eyes are just below the horizon (not directly straight ahead) looking at the center of the computer monitor at arm's length away, elbows are at 90 degrees, hands floating just above the keyboard, slightly curved, and typing gently with only enough pressure to make contact, the desk on which the computer sits needs to be positioned in such as way as to be compatible with these requirements (there is also the option of standing rather than sitting)--while this paragraph seems very detailed, the book develops the WHY behind all of this and adds much more detail for anyone that wants to work with maximum comfort and minimal stress at the computer.





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