I am enjoying the multiple flavors of my favorite breakfast of egg whites and as many vegetables as I can find in the refrigerator.

After a few minutes, my big toe starts aching. I notice it is pressed hard into the floor, my heel up in the air, the other ankle crossed over the heel at an odd angle under the chair.

I never noticed how I sit in a chair at the table. I wonder if I always cross my ankles and feet in this way. I realize I am also leaning forward, straining my low back. My shoulders are up and my arms are tense.

That’s a lot of tension for simply eating breakfast at the table first thing in the morning.

I set the timer for one minute. Untangling my ankles and feet, I place them flat on the floor and take a deep breath in and out. Leaning back slightly in the seat, I realize I am too far from the table to be comfortable. I move the chair forward slightly. Dropping my hands on each side of the chair I allow the weight of the hand to pull my body gently to the left, then to the right. Raising both hands comfortable above my head I look up feeling the stretch in my neck. Allowing the arms to gently fall back to my side, my head to return to neutral, I slowly turn my head to the left, then to the right, before coming to a stop. My shoulders have relaxed. I take another deep breath in and out.

Finishing breakfast feels so different that I intend to notice how I sit when reading, writing, and watching TV.

Mentastics Minute:  Listen Here
– Sitting in a chair at a table.

Set a timer for one minute. Notice the position of the ankles and feet. Gently place them flat on the floor and take a deep breath in and out. Lean back slightly in the seat. Is the chair too far from the table to be comfortable? Is it too close? If so, move the chair to find comfortable. Drop both hands to the side of the chair. Allow the weight of the hand to pull the body gently to the left, then to the right. Raise both hands comfortably above the head. Look up feeling the stretch in the neck. Allow the arms to gently fall back to the side and the gaze to return to neutral. Slowly turn the head to the left, then to the right, before coming to a stop. Notice the shoulders. Take another deep breath in and out.