Tradition or otherwise, sitting down on the floor to eat your food can do a whole lot of good for your health and even for your overall wellness. Research has found a strong link between important health parameters and the age-old practice of sitting comfortably on the floor and tucking into the everyday meal.
While the practice continues in some households in this part of the world, it is not common to catch sight of people sitting cross-legged on the floor of their dining or the living room to grab their day’s meal – definitely not in the city. Festive season might encourage family and friends to gather together for a meal on the floor, but generally speaking, modernisation has centred our meals on the dining table; often, furniture and furnishing playing as dominant a role as the food served on the table.
Understandably, sitting on the floor doesn’t come easy, not after years of conditioning by the seemingly quintessential chair. Getting down on the floor and tucking the legs behind requires some dexterity too, which age might undermine or add to the discomfort of the person. But if going back to basics sounds appealing, especially in the light of the health benefits accruing from the simple act of sitting on your haunches/cross-legged or any which way that is comfortable, then let’s get on the act.
The best way to start, especially if sitting down for any purpose is a novelty, is to create the right setting by incorporating rugs or throw pillows or, better still, the local traditional majlis floor sofa, with hard back cushions and bolsters. While back rest might not help during a luncheon session on the floor, the cushioning from sofa will act as a support to ease the tension in the limbs and help break you in, similar to the new pair of shoes that require some breaking in to take away the discomfort. With benefits ranging from digestion to increased lifespan, it is all about your intent to get inducted into the hallowed halls of traditional eating.
Aids digestion
Interestingly, the spontaneous back and forth movement caused during the process of eating while seated on the floor, helps the abdominal muscles to secrete digestive juices and aid quicker and better digestion. That is not all, this sitting position is said to have a calming effect on the mind, as pressure is applied to the lower spine, facilitating relaxation.
Improves flexibility
The very image of a person sitting on the floor in a cross-legged position can evoke a feeling of flexibility. The position helps stretch the joints at the hips, knees and even the ankles and adds an element of flexibility around the spine, shoulders and chest. And once you master the art of sitting on the floor in one move, you will get a better understanding of the flexibility in your body. This is true for office-goers who tend to sit long hours on the chair. Besides, it will also go a long way in ensuring good posture, which is called for to reduce strain on your muscles and joints. People who constantly complain of aches and pains in the back and neck would understand the importance of sitting on the floor with the back straight.
Supports weight loss
Of the many benefits of sitting down, weight loss is probably the most fascinating and, perhaps, doubtful too. How can sitting down and eating help weight loss…? The crux of the matter is that your brain is said to calm down, helping you to focus better on the food you are eating. And that also translates into feeling full faster. Studies have shown that people, often, overeat as they fail to realise when they are full. But when you sit down on the floor to eat, the nerve that sends signals to the brain to tell when you are full is said to perform at its optimum, transmitting the message more effectively. What is more, you tend to, generally, eat slower on the floor than on the table.
Promotes bonding
Whether you sit down with your family or friends, the intimacy that dining on the floor creates can easily promote an ambience of bonding. Everyone is at one level, even the children, and communication will seem simpler and easier. Besides, it can prove to be a humbling experience for all, as it comes across as a beautiful equaliser.
Whether you are sitting down to eat or simply to socialise, creating the right ambience is important if you have zeroed on going back to the basics. It could be a divan or a pillow that will add to the comfort level. Here are a few ideas to check out:
- Start with a rug, around which you can arrange the cushions and pillows for the back.
- Opt for triangle beanbags, which can also enhance the aesthetics of the room
- Arrange large pillows in strategic places to encourage floor seating
- Ottomans are also effective
- Futons or floor mattresses that can double up as floor sofas.
- Traditional majlis floor sofas.