My advice for anyone is this: Find a good physiotherapist. I’d been to half a dozen before I found a really good one. Most of them, I found, “patch the walls up” instead of “fixing the foundation” to use metaphors. With her, I’ve really improved posture through exercises and realigned my hips as well. It only takes a commitment of 10 to 20 min. three days a week to upkeep myself into the brand new man that I am.

My physiotherapist is excellent. She used to be a downhill competitive skiier and broke her back before. She doesn’t move like someone who has broken her back. I think jocks make good physiotherapists as well because they know how to train and exercise efficiently. She’s the only physio I’ve had where I’ve stuck with the exercises.

I used to not be able to sleep on a Greyhound bus without aching horribly afterwards. Earlier this month, I spent three days installing a new floor in my kitchen (really hard on the back). The last day I worked for 15 1/2 hrs. to get it done. The next day, I travelled on a bus for 6 hrs, slept for half the time, but I felt good afterward!

So, like I say, find a good physio. It’s too hard to figure out what you need to do on your own. If your problems are minor, yes, you may be able to just do tai chi or yoga or stretches but, still, I think, for long term success, it’s good to get SPECIFIC exercises and stretches for you.

Best Luck, Josh

My advice for anyone is this: Find a good physiotherapist. I’d been to half a dozen before I found a really good one. Most of them, I found, “patch the walls up” instead of “fixing the foundation” to use metaphors. With her, I’ve really improved posture through exercises and realigned my hips as well. It only takes a commitment of 10 to 20 min. three days a week to upkeep myself into the brand new man that I am.

My physiotherapist is excellent. She used to be a downhill competitive skiier and broke her back before. She doesn’t move like someone who has broken her back. I think jocks make good physiotherapists as well because they know how to train and exercise efficiently. She’s the only physio I’ve had where I’ve stuck with the exercises.

I used to not be able to sleep on a Greyhound bus without aching horribly afterwards. Earlier this month, I spent three days installing a new floor in my kitchen (really hard on the back). The last day I worked for 15 1/2 hrs. to get it done. The next day, I travelled on a bus for 6 hrs, slept for half the time, but I felt good afterward!

So, like I say, find a good physio. It’s too hard to figure out what you need to do on your own. If your problems are minor, yes, you may be able to just do tai chi or yoga or stretches but, still, I think, for long term success, it’s good to get SPECIFIC exercises and stretches for you.

Best Luck, Josh

Cheers Amigos

Cheers Amigos

I found a display model Steelcase Leap chair for around $400 (they usually retail for about $600, similar to an Aeron). It has made a distinct difference, though I do alot of my drawing at the computer. If you go that route, look up reviews on the web, find somewhere near you that you can sit in them, and don’t be shy about saying you’ll come back later and checking other chsirs elsewhere. I spend 12-14 hours a day in mine, so it was well worth the investment.

Kevin Kelly of Cool Tools, whose judgement many people, including myself, trust, recommends an inexpensive alternative, the Russell Exexutive Chair: http://www.kk.org/cooltools/archives/000891.php which is about $250-$300 at Office Depot and elsewhere.

Also, using a portable drawing board propped in your lap, rather than leaning over a drawing table, can allow you to sit up straighter, as can a portable board propped at a higher slant on a drawing table left at a shallower angle, allowing a best of both worlds scenario.

I second the drawing bench option, obviously.

I also have been practicing T’ai Chi for many years and find its emphasis on a comfortably vertical spine is excellent for you back. The image suggested is of imagining your body weight suspended by a thread from the top of your head, as though the spine was hanging vertically, rather than stiffly holding your weight up like a pillar.

I found a display model Steelcase Leap chair for around $400 (they usually retail for about $600, similar to an Aeron). It has made a distinct difference, though I do alot of my drawing at the computer. If you go that route, look up reviews on the web, find somewhere near you that you can sit in them, and don’t be shy about saying you’ll come back later and checking other chsirs elsewhere. I spend 12-14 hours a day in mine, so it was well worth the investment.

Kevin Kelly of Cool Tools, whose judgement many people, including myself, trust, recommends an inexpensive alternative, the Russell Exexutive Chair: http://www.kk.org/cooltools/archives/000891.php which is about $250-$300 at Office Depot and elsewhere.

Also, using a portable drawing board propped in your lap, rather than leaning over a drawing table, can allow you to sit up straighter, as can a portable board propped at a higher slant on a drawing table left at a shallower angle, allowing a best of both worlds scenario.

I second the drawing bench option, obviously.

I also have been practicing T’ai Chi for many years and find its emphasis on a comfortably vertical spine is excellent for you back. The image suggested is of imagining your body weight suspended by a thread from the top of your head, as though the spine was hanging vertically, rather than stiffly holding your weight up like a pillar.