The joys of a happy back
Backjoy launches SitSmart Posture Core designed especially for women.
I’m no doctor, but I may just be an expert on back pain because I experience it every single day. It started when I was a kid and my teacher would tell me to “sit up straight,” to which I would respond by pushing my chest and stomach forward, like Wile E. Coyote punched me on the back. For many of us, it’s a product of accrued hours of sitting in front of a computer. It’s an ailment that has plagued more individuals in recent years, thanks to sedentary, instalifestyles. In a time when we hardly have to get up anymore because almost everything can be done remotely, how do we keep our backs healthy and happy?
Recently, Backjoy launched its latest product, the SitSmart Posture Core, which is designed especially for women. I’m sitting on one as I write this, and I am feeling three things. First, there’s definitely comfort thanks to the broader cushioning it provides. The new design is wider and hugs the buttocks perfectly. Second, I am forced to engage my core. Conditioning the core is one of the first rules of relieving back pain. Backjoy’s ergonomically sculpted base activates the gluteus and core muscles. When the core is engaged, there’s less strain on the spine when doing any activity. Third, pressure on my lower back from sitting the wrong way is gone.
Based in Boulder, Colorado, Backjoy’s mission is to improve quality of life by helping individuals maintain a healthy back and relieve pain. Of course, there is a right way to use it: position, sit and activate. Place the Backjoy on a chair. Sit all the way on the back. Keep both feet on the ground and keep knees in a 90-degree angle. Sit actively and don’t lean back. The tailbone should be just above the edge of the back of the seat, and legs should be pushing down of the front of the seat to enable to Backjoy to tilt the pelvis. SitSmart Posture Core works on any type of seat, from car seats to hard bleachers. The material is weatherproof and safe for indoor and outdoor use.
“In Hong Kong and Taiwan, Backjoy is marketed as a beauty product to keep back and thighs strong,” says Doreen Lee, senior regional manager for Backjoy Asia. The latest Backjoy product, SitSmart Posture Core, is designed for the Asian woman, who tends to be smaller but also have curves. The new shape cups the buttocks. The front pummel serves as an intuitive guide to proper sitting and prevents sliding. “For the ladies, it’s perfect because it keeps you from slipping forward. We’ve also improved stability with padding in the back, so even when you put it on the floor, it’s very stable,” says Lee. The new product was launched at Yoga Plus in Makati, with a demonstration of sitting poses for back relief.
I use my pink Backjoy SitSmart Posture Core at home, when I have to sit some more after a day of sitting, or after I’ve missed a few yoga sessions and my back feels tense. It certainly takes a bit of getting used to — one would assume it would just magically make you “sit up straight,” but it also requires awareness from the user. In between, be sure to do regular back and core strengthening exercises for more support.
Backjoy SitSmart Posture Core is available at all Backjoy kiosks nationwide. For information, visit @backjoyphilippines on Facebook and Instagram.