As we’ve mentioned, posture is about movement and being able to center your body in a position that encourages flexibility. Forget standing in an incredibly awkward, straight position. Each body is different, and discovering the best posture for your body type will vary.

Check out the posture infographic to learn more about posture dos and don’ts and how to achieve the right position for you.

[Infographic Via]

The post The Ultimate Guide to Better Posture appeared first on Xdesk Blog.

1. Never slouch or slump to achieve good posture.
This claim is false (we told you you’d be surprised). If you only sit or stand in a straight, usually unnatural, position, you’re not allowing your body to experience a full range of motion. Good posture supports the ability of easy, fluid movement, and flexing into a slouch gives you more freedom to easily change positions. Just make sure not to sit in that position too long, posture is about movement.

2. Crossing your legs leads to varicose veins.
False! Although this claim isn’t entirely true, it does lead to negative side effects. Crossing your legs can lead to lower back pain. And when you cross your legs it leads to increased pressure and locks your body into a fixed position.

3. Stand or sit straight to achieve good posture.
Wrong. Standing or sitting straight up to achieve proper alignment is actually doing nothing for you. It’s fixing the body in one position, without allowing room for movement. You’re familiar with the position: shoulders pushed back at attention, spine overly extended, and the face contorted into apparent discomfort. Posture is dynamic, so you can be ready to move in any direction at a moment’s notice. Bad posture is fixed, uncomfortable and unnatural.

4. Bad posture causes scoliosis.
There has never been a study linking bad posture to scoliosis. Scoliosis stems from unknown causes.

5. There’s only good and bad posture.
The idea of bad posture leads to people locking themselves in that uncomfortable position described in Number 3. Then movement completely stops and you’re stuck in one position. That position doesn’t set the standard for what’s good and what’s bad. Posture should instead be viewed as an idea without hard rules. The human body is different, so finding an individual position that encourages movement and comfort will vary for everyone.

6. Sitting at a computer all day ruins posture.
Fact. Beyond adversely affecting your health, sitting does cause bad posture. It causes your neck to strain and shoulders to hunch, but worst of all, it keeps you in a fixed position. Make sure to keep adjusting and moving in your chair during the day, or you can opt for standing up (which we highly recommend).

So instead of remaining in your chair all day, get up and move! You don’t have to awkwardly march to the water cooler with straight shoulders and a straight spine, just move. Saunter over to your coworker’s desk for a chat instead of sending an email, or walk around the block during lunch. Stand and stretch behind your desk every so often to encourage the most important quality of posture: Movement.

[Via Huffington Post and Ladies Home Journal]

The post Bad Posture Myths Revealed appeared first on Xdesk Blog.

The adjustable monitor arm takes your standing desk to the next level.

So you have your adjustable height desk or standing desk, you have your adjustable keyboard tray, and yet … you still feel like you could be more comfortable and more aligned. So what can you do besides stack your monitor on a pile of shoe boxes?

Get an adjustable monitor arm. At Xdesk, we offer two options: the Solo Monitor arm, for those of you with one monitor, and the Mondo Monitor arm, for those of you who use two monitors.

Here’s why you should be using an adjustable monitor arm if you’re not already:

1) You don’t want to strain your neck by peering at the monitor in a fixed position. A Xdesk adjustable monitor arm will allow you to adjust the height, depth, and in most cases, the angle of your monitor to get it at the healthiest and most comfortable position for your body.

2) Clear up the clutter. If you already have an adjustable height desk from Xdesk, you know that a clutter-free design is important to us. All of the wires, gears, and things that make your desk move so smoothly, are, well, hidden.

So why clutter up your beautiful adjustable height desk with a clunky monitor on top of it, just taking up space? Maximize the space on your desk with an adjustable monitor arm.

3) Adjustable monitor arms are versatile. Rather than setting a stack of boxes on your desk to lift your monitor to the perfect height (which believe me, doesn’t work), an adjustable monitor arm allows complete flexibility and versatility. Even if you share your ergonomic workstation with others, the adjustable monitor arm will move to meet individual needs.

4) Your adjustable height desk works best with a monitor arm. If you have an adjustable height desk, you need to be able to adjust your monitor to the optimal viewing position for either standing or sitting.

This can change depending on what height your desk is set to, so a monitor arm is not just another “accessory” for your adjustable height desk, but it is also necessary.

5) Your Xdesk Fit will work better with a monitor arm. Just like with an adjustable height desk, if you use a treadmill desk, it will work best for your body if you use an adjustable monitor arm. Not only will your posture be better, but what about for those times when you don’t want to be walking on the treadmill at your desk?

With an adjustable monitor arm, you can turn the monitor around 360 degrees and work from a standing position or even a chair on the other side of the desk. Pretty neat, huh?

If you already have your adjustable height desk, standing desk, or treadmill desk and you still feel something is missing, well, chances are, it is a monitor arm. Check them out online today.

Do you use an adjustable monitor arm with your ergonomic workstation? How do you like it?

The post The Top 5 Reasons Why You Need an Adjustable Monitor Arm appeared first on Xdesk Blog.

Read through to discover the best way to stand behind your adjustable height desk.

In our last post we told you why good posture is important, both for your health and your looks and confidence. Today we thought we’d go over what exactly good posture looks like. This will be important with an adjustable height desk, because good posture is key whether you’re sitting, standing, or on the move. Check it out.

Sitting: If you have your adjustable height desk in a seated position, or perhaps you’re sitting on the bus, or even in your car—here is the perfect posture for optimal breathing, digestion, and muscle development. Sit with your shoulders and back straight. Your legs should be at a 90 degree angle to your body, and be sure to keep your neck, back, and heels in alignment. If you start feeling like slouching at your adjustable height desk, just adjust it and stand up!

Standing: Okay, speaking of standing, here’s how you should do it: Hold your head up straight and chin slightly tucked in. Keep your shoulder blades back, your chest forward, and your stomach tucked in. Keep most of your weight on the balls of your feet (not your toes or heels) and let your arms dangle down naturally. If you’re at your adjustable height desk using the keyboard, your forearms should be parallel to the floor and your wrists should be bent down slightly to type.

Lifting: If you need to lift something off the ground, bend at the knees and use your leg muscles to do most of the work—not your back. When you bend at the waist to lift something, your back is doing all the work and that’s a good way to pull something (trust me!)

Keep your spine straight: This is more of a general rule. Be mindful of your spine when you’re standing or sitting at your adjustable height desk, when you’re moving around, or even when moving something. Awareness is key. The more attention you pay to your posture, the better it will be!

So remember these positions when you’re sitting, standing, lifting, or just living. And be sure to check out our next post with some great tips, stretches, and exercises for getting and maintaining that perfect posture.

Do you use an adjustable height desk? Have you noticed a difference in how your back feels? Share your thoughts below!

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Good posture is the beginning to a healthier lifestyle.

Xdesk is an advocate of good posture. With sit to stand desks like these, you’re not only working on your posture when you’re standing up—you’re strengthening the muscles in your back so your posture improves when you sit down. Of course maintaining good posture isn’t an easy job, even with a sit to stand desk. You need to be aware of how you’re standing, mindful of any tension in your shoulders or back, and most of all you need to practice. Remember the old saying, “practice makes perfect?” Well it is true for good posture, too. Practice good posture when you’re standing and sitting at your adjustable height desk and before you know it, it will become habit.

But good posture should go beyond just practicing behind your sit to stand desk. That’s why in the next few posts, we’re going to give you the rundown on good posture—why you want it, how to get it, and tips for maintaining it, no matter where you are.

Today, we’ll start with the basics. Here are five reasons why good posture is so important: 

1) Standing and sitting correctly prevents back strain and overuse, and helps prevent back, neck, and muscle pain.

2) Good posture helps the muscles work more efficiently, which will help prevent fatigue

3) Good posture allows better breathing, which provides oxygen to your body and your brain. This is so important during the day, especially at work, when you need your brain to be awake and productive!

4) Standing properly makes you look slimmer, stronger, and healthier. And who doesn’t want that?

5) Good posture makes you look confident. Even if you’re not feeling confident at the moment, if you stand tall with your head held high, you’ll look like you own the room. And if you practice good posture, soon enough you’ll feel just as confident as you look.

Sit to stand desks are just one great way to practice good posture during the day. Check out our next post with some other ideas!

Do you use a sit to stand desk at work? How has it affected your posture?

The post Posture 101: Why Good Posture Will Change your Life appeared first on Xdesk Blog.