Active Working

Have you ever thought about working and exercising at the same time? Manufactures have developed many different types of products to make the workplace more exciting. The purpose of this blog is not to sell products. This blog is to provide information about products that are available on the market that can increase activity in the workplace. 

Safco is one of the product lines that has produced products over 50 years. One of their focuses is to provide comfortable products that enhance the workplace.

Active Seating

Ball Chair

There are several types and sizes of ball chairs. These types of chairs have been endorsed by testimonials from the Global Educator Institute (GEI) whose mission is to select products or tools to help teachers have a successful teaching environment. The well-designed products and tools help children learn and have fun in an interesting learning environment.  

"We're dedicated to helping teachers and administrators choose the best-designed, most effective classroom products available." - GEI

The concept of the ball chair is having an exercise ball inside the chair. While sitting on top of the chair users can still move and not get too distracted while learning or working. 

Below are some examples of Safco chairs: 

Source: Safco

Looking at the pictures, it may seem the chairs are only going to distract from work and children are going to bounce around not paying attention. However, a GEI reviewer said that:

• the products motivate students and keep them on task and focused
• students are willing to work hard in order to use the chair as a reward
• ball chairs are used to fulfill children's movement needs
• chairs are easy to store and assemble, and everyone can move them around

These types of the chairs are not only good for a learning environment but also for an office environment. May work types require working in a seated position. Since "seating is the new smoking" and not everyone can accept working while standing, this will be an alternate option to have active workplace. 

Active Stool 

Active stools are designed to create a working position that helps people to work at a half-standing, half-seated position and supporting leaning and perching posture. These types of the seating reduce the pressure points on the spine and connecting muscles of either standing or seating

Below are some examples of Safco products:

Source: Safco

These type of the seats are designed to have a 130 to 135 degree range from hip-to-torso. Research suggests that working a half-seated and half-standing position will increase working productivity. Pivoting seat legs inspire dynamic movement to keep users active through out the day. 

There are many different types of active seating in the market, these are just some examples. These are only recommended by research. These might not suitable to everyone and every location. There are other ways to have fun and work actively. 

Reference:

http://www.safcoproducts.com/ 

All photos are from Safco Website.