Posture Ergonomics Quotes

To save space and money, Thor and my mom work in the same office, which is basically like a converted closet, only smaller. In keeping with the frugal and Puritanical mindset, they even share the same chair. It’s a wooden chair with its back cut off and a pillow on top for padding, and Thor sits on the front half while my mom sits on the back half. Each uses the other’s back like the back of a chair. Thank God Thor’s stooped posture is like an ergonomically designed chair for my mom. He is her recliner.

We’ve all seen what age can do to posture; as muscles tighten, shoulders round. But it’s not inevitable. Like a lot of things, good posture just takes more effort as you get older: more attention (are the settings on your work chair ergonomically correct?); more breaks (take a walk, cop a squat, shake out your arms); more movement all day long; more stretching, more foam-rolling, more strengthening. And more awareness, so you notice when you’re slumping and correct it. It’s worth it.

Tina is sitting at a table waiting for me. Her hands are folded and she’s sitting with perfect posture, like she’s an advertisement for some kind of ergonomic chair. I stop. Her eyes dart up to mine and then look away. I come to stand by her. “Hi, you.” We haven’t talked—or texted—since our brief exchange on Saturday night. And that’s okay. I can be patient. I don’t pretend to understand her, but I understand this: Like me, she’s caught. She wants to be responsible. She doesn’t like losing control—even as little as we did together. And I don’t want her terrified. I want her naked. I want her beneath me. And when she’s there, I want her to be sure.