T is for Toes

Several weeks ago when I was complaining about my back being stiff after a long day of writing to a deadline, the husband dared challenged me to do a series of toe touches to stretch. (And honestly, I meant to include “stretch” in Saturday’s S sampler.) I guess he didn’t think I could, but I can. I can bend at the waist with straight legs and put my hands flat on the floor. I’ve always been very flexible. No idea why. So I did them. Maybe ten. And then later I did ten more. And then I got to the point where every time I got up from the computer – to use the restroom, to get a drink or lunch, to walk outside and say hi to the cats, to put in a load of laundry, to check the mail – the first thing I did when I stood up was to do twenty or so toe touches. My back has stopped hurting completely. I don’t groan when I stand up from the desk, but I also don’t sit for more than thirty minutes at a time. And I’ve learned after the week spent at the dining room table doing taxes and killing my shoulder in the process, that these days, I really do need to write at my desk. It’s not particularly ergonomic, or at least not planned to be, but it keeps me from aching in all the wrong places. I’ve had the same desk chair for ten years at least, and I love it. It’s a standard secretarial model, but it’s got a big wide seat for my big wide seat. I still like to write in the backyard, but these days I find I need to use pen and paper because neither my laptop or Alphasmart can be situated at the right angle to keep my wrists from complaining. It sucks getting old and decrepit, but I’ve got to say, toe touches have saved me a lot of pain and suffering. Just taking those few minutes several times throughout the day has helped my back, my shoulders, my arms and my legs. And it’s so easy! No gym or even shoes required!

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