Bursting Balls!

You’re shopping for a chair online and you want something different.  Something cool, like you’ve seen on design blogs and in trade show reviews.  Something innovative, comfortable and good for your posture.

It looms…

Then you run across a product called the Ball Chair.  Its various permutations are similar, but the one question running through your mind as you look at the attractive folks perched perfectly on their chairs is,

“Is this thing going to explode when I sit on it?”

That’s the first thing I thought, at least.  But never fear!  The Evolution chair is made with high quality anti-burst material, and direct from Evolution’s site:

Our anti-burst balance ball is eco-friendly and latex-free. It is also 6P-free, meaning it does not contain the 6 most harmful phthalates contained in some other balance balls or plastic products.

Good for the environment, good for the back.  What’s not to love?  Two of my co-workers sit on them, and we all occasionally do a little quick yoga in the office.  Only when the bosses are not here, catch my drift?

staying on the ball (chair)

Ball chairs! We love these things here, in case you hadn’t noticed from the bazillion past blog entries about them. And we are specially fond of Evolution ball chairs, which are now going for an unbelievable price. I like to sit on our Evolution ball chair when I’m filing paperwork here at the office, because it’s great for activities that require reaching, bending, and fine motor skills. (Must be why doctors,  dentists, and dental hygenists love it so much! It’s more flexible and comfortable than a normal stool.)

Does the idea of sitting on an inflatable orb all day long still freak you out? Do you like to confine your Pilates equipment to the gym? Maybe it would help to see the ball chair in action, then. You’re in luck, because the CBS Early Show featured a demonstration of active sitting during its report entitled ‘Exercise for Workaholics.’ Take a look at the video here and see what you’re missing.

creepy chair!

The Alphabet of Seating:

C is for…Creepy

I’ve recently discovered Homeqn, or Home Quotient, which is a pretty sweet blog cataloguing excellent and unusual home decor. For starters, they’ve opened me up to the wild world of blood-themed home decor. Oh sure, I’ve seen the blood-spattered shower curtain before (because let’s face it, who doesn’t want to reenact the famous scene from Psycho every now and then?), but how about this ball chair that got a little too close to a meat grinder?

Kind of takes the idea of a womb-like environment to a new level, don’t you think? If Djreko’s take on the chair is too bloody for you, SeatingZone offers a cleaner variation: the ever-groovy ModZ Mib Chair.

Ah, there we are, all nice and clean – much better.

inquiring spines want to know

Many people call in and ask what the hallmark signs of an ergonomic product are, why some are more expensive than others, and which products are best suited for particular injuries.  While we cannot make medical recommendations, we do point out the fact that spinal/lower back support is the reason most people opt for ergonomic seats.  Prominent lumbar support, coupled with contoured seating, allows sitters to properly place their feet flat on the ground and sit with correct posture.

(All Seating 50160 Therapod Therapist High Back Chair)

A fantastic and highly-accessible article detailing the specifics of ergonomic seating can be found on Spine-Health, an informational website chock full o’ wellness, back, neck, and pain resources.  Take a quick read, and you’ll feel better equipped browsing through our selection of ergnomic office chairs and specialty seating options.

it’s monday. get on the ball (chair)!

If you’re familiar with SeatingZone.com, you know that we carry a wide range of ergonomic chairs to help those with injuries or those who are just on a quest for better posture and balance.

I remember from my ballet classes in elementary school that good posture meant pretending that a string ran through my head and up to the ceiling.  I still try to uphold that image as I take a seat at the desk and dinner table, but it would be much easier if I had an Evolution Ball Chair.

The positive features of this chair are practically innumerable.  It is ideal for both home-use and medical, office, and customer service industries.  It is a top-of-the-top contender for health-conscious multi-taskers, because you buildcore strength in order to sit for prolonged periods of time with an upward, straight spine.  The chair is also is height adjustable,  allowing you to set your hips higher than you knees — a position which helps your core and spine do its “new” job.  See? Killing at least three birds with one stone (and looking like you’re having fun while doing so)!

The chair also comes with casters so you can match the mobility of your traditional office chair, and so that you can adjust to your new balancing act.  (As with any of the speciality ergonomic chairs we carry, we suggest initially switching between a ball chair and a traditional chair so that you won’t get too fatigued from the start.)

We now offer the chair for $139.99.  If that’s not enough incentive to get rollin’, I’m not sure what is!

Happy Easter

The folks at health mark sent over this bouncy bunny pic featuring their Swiss Ball Chair and I thought I’d share it with you. Here’s hoping the easter bunny leaves chocolate office chairs for all of you.

There is no chair

You know the old saying, “the clothes make the man”? Well, sometimes the chair plays a role, too. Just imagine that scene from the Matrix, when Morpheus is handing out blue and red pills.

That scene would have had a pretty different feel if Laurence Fishburne had been perched on a folding chair instead of the imposing leather wing chair in that picture.  (Although…  what if he had been bouncing on a ball chair?  That would have been pretty cool.  And hilarious.)

There’s no question: people will judge you by your office chair, so think carefully about what image you’re projecting.  And if you want the image of a super-cool post-apocalyptic guru (and honestly, who doesn’t?), then I have just the chair for you.  

So…  will you take the red leather, or the blue?

Perfect Fit

The gift giving season is down to its dregs, but I’m sure some of you are still looking for that perfect gift for someone obsessed with seating trends. (Wait, you don’t know anyone obsessed with seating trends? Well, your humble author comes to mind…) I know what you’re thinking: get them a chair, right? But really, why go the obvious route when you could give this:

The Take a Seat t-shirt, from redbubble.com, featuring Classic Chair Designs like the Eames Lounge Chair by Charles and Ray Eames, Old Sparky Electric Chair by Huntsville Inmates (a little morbid, perhaps), plus the Ball Chair by Eero Aarnio.  Because when you can’t sit in a chair, you can at least wear one…

 

Via Furniture Store Blog

bounce, bounce, bounce

Have you been yearning for a ball chair but were put off by the sizeable pricetag on the beautiful Topstar Octopus?  Well, let me introduce the newest member of our bouncing ball family!

The Health Mark Swiss Ball Chair is an incredible value for the style. A special 50 cm, burst-resistant yoga ball nestled in a lightweight, wheeled frame, it is easy to assemble and will keep you focused and active while working, exercising, or both. And best of all, it’s a steal for only $89.00!

Ball chair contest!

Are you a proud owner of the Evolution Ball Chair?  Well, listen up, because they manufacturer is having a contest to promote the health and well-being of its happy customers.  Send them a photo of an evolution chair in a cool and creative environment, and you could win a new one!

Here are the details:

Win an Evolution Chair! In celebration and support of workplace wellness we have extended the contest deadline to October 31st. This gives you 2 more weeks to get your picture in and have the chance to win!

To enter please submit a photograph of your Evolution Chair working for you to evolutionchair@shaw.ca; please reduce the size of your photos so they are no bigger than 1MB.

Chair photos entered in the contest will be judged on innovative environments and unique uses for the Evolution Chair whether it be work, home or play.

To enter this contest an individual must be 19 years of age or older and living in North America. Entries will be accepted until October 31st with the winner will be selected and notified on November 3rd, 2008.  Look for the picture of the winning chair in our next issue.