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Opinion on a new office chair

Bjornv
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Opinion on a new office chair

Dear Gokhale Teachers,

Because of the corona virus, we are all forced to work more from home (at least in Belgium) and at home I don't have a decent chair to sit behind my desk 8 hours a day. 

I read the recommendations of Esther on this topic (no armrests, fixed back rest, sloping/descending seat cushion, ...)

I added a few images of the chair I would like to buy. It's a budgt chair, it costs about 150$. The reason I don't want to buy the Gokhale Pain-Free chair is because I will be buying a standing desk soon. Standing the whole day is not a good idea either, so therefore I still need a decentchair. 

What's your opinion on this chair? You can change the height of the back rest, the depth of the seat, ... 

One thing that could be bad is the back rest itself: Does it have too much curvature?

 

I'll look forward to your opinion.

 

Kind Regards,

 

Björn

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Abeja Judy Hummel
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Hello Bjorn,

We, too, are working a lot from home, and getting a good chair is essential.  Honestly, a simple folding chair would be better than that one.  Here are my issues with it:

1) No room for your behind to get behind you.

2) The back curves forward, not allowing your shoulders to be back.

3) the seat itself is slightly bucketed in the middle, which will push your legs into internal rotation.

Think flat seat, or slightly higher in the middle, not on the sides.  Think space below the backrest for your bottom.  And don't have a backrest that curves inward.

I hope that's helpful.  Good luck!

Judy Abeja Hummel

Gokhale Method Instructor

 

Bjornv
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Hey Abeja,

 

What about this one: https://www.officetopper.be/conferentiestoel-22310-giroflex-64

 

The back is still curved but not as much as most are. The seat looks fine? My behind can easily get behind me. 

 

Or these ones:

 

https://www.amazon.de/-/en/Topstar-T100G20-Swivel-Chair-Black/dp/B000KTBE88/ref=sr_1_4?dchild=1&keywords=topstar+drehstuhl+top+pro+1&qid=1601485228&quartzVehicle=184-492&replacementKeywords=topstar+drehstuhl+top+1&sr=8-4

 

https://www.amazon.de/-/en/Topstar-Point-8160G20-Office-Swivel/dp/B000MQ95LC/ref=sr_1_20?crid=JOUS4QOW3RJA&dchild=1&keywords=topstar+b%C3%BCrostuhl&qid=1601484964&refinements=p_36%3A3000-15000&rnid=389361011&sprefix=topstar+b%2Caps%2C158&sr=8-20

 

Kind Regards,

Björn

Abeja Judy Hummel
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Hi Bjorn,

The first chair has a very bucketed seat, which you would need to fill in, and the back leans back, forcing a sway in your back--though you could add some towels on the top to build it out.

The second chair has no room for your behind, the seat leans back a bit, which is not ideal, and the back has "integrated lumbar support", which I would be wary of, though there is no way to tell without sitting on it.

The Third chair's bottom looks ok, but also has the "lumbar support" which forces a sway, and the sides come in, which can force your shoulders forward.

Fact is, when Esther can find a commercial product to recommend, she does.  When she can't--as in, a good office chair--she designed one and had it made.  It is very hard to find an office chair that doesn't re-inforce bad habits. 

Sorry for the bad news!

 

Bjornv
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Yes I understand that Esther created a great office chair that can give you more back pain relief but the price is just way too high for me. Off course, what is 650$ for less back pain and 10 years of good sitting posture, but if you would know why I already bought in the last 2 years to relieve my back pain... it's crazy!

I hope that the price will lower in the next years because now it's something for the happy few.

Abeja Judy Hummel
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HI Bjorn,

I totally understand that the price of the chair is outside of many people's budgets, especially in these challenging times.  Instead of those chairs you showed me, I think you would do better, unless you have very long or very short legs, with a simple folding chair.

Bjornv
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Hey Abeja,

 

One last question: What about these chairs: https://www.bol.com/nl/p/mega-beauty-shop-zadelkruk-met-rugleuning-zwart/9200000073312577/

 

https://via-direct.nl/werkstoel-economy-gm200-pur.html

 

https://via-direct.nl/werkstoel-tez160-pur.html

 

https://www.schaefer-shop.nl/p/prosedia-younico-plus-8-bureaustoel-rugleuning-510-mm-zonder-armleuning-zwart?selectedItem=141122

 

You can also move the seat into a different angle so that you can place your butt higher than your hip joint. 

This one has a quite straight back and the legs should be able to move outward if I am right? 

 

It might be a little less comfortable than other chairs? I have no idea..

 

Grtz!

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Dear Björn, 

Abeja gave you a great answer! There is also a way to adapt any chair for better siting with Gokhale Stretchsit Cushion. But there is definitely good to have a chair without bucketed seat.

All the best, 

Sabina, Gokhale method teacher

Bjornv
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Hello,

 

What about this chair: https://www.bol.com/nl/p/mega-beauty-shop-zadelkruk-met-rugleuning-zwart/9200000073312577/

You can also move the seat into a different angle so that you can place your butt higher than your hip joint. 

This one has a quite straight back and the legs should be able to move outward if I am right? 

 

Grtz!

Abeja Judy Hummel
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Pretty good!  I've never seen a chair with the rise between the legs, but I like that it keeps you from internally rotating the legs.  I would recommend it!  Keep the back up straight. Let me know how comfortable it is. 

Well done!

Bjornv
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Hey Abeja,

 

Could you tell me what you think of the products below: (this is my last questions about cushions/chairs, promise!)

Cushions:

HOKEKI Seat Cushion for Chair: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07MX7S4NW?pf_rd_r=PR28QKG2YHQZ3BXEVZ8P&pf_rd_p=6fc81c8c-2a38-41c6-a68a-f78c79e7253f

 

ComfiLife Gel Enhanced seat cushion: https://www.amazon.com/ComfiLife-Gel-Enhanced-Seat-Cushion/dp/B014F18ZGU/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?dchild=1&keywords=Comfilife+gel+cushion&sr=8-1-spons&psc=1&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUExUFI0MFEzQTZRWkkmZW5jcnlwdGVkSWQ9QTAxNTMyNzIyNlVKT1U5MUpJNEtZJmVuY3J5cHRlZEFkSWQ9QTAzNDAwMzUyWFJJNFNORFZOVjZKJndpZGdldE5hbWU9c3BfYXRmJmFjdGlvbj1jbGlja1JlZGlyZWN0JmRvTm90TG9nQ2xpY2s9dHJ1ZQ==

 

DYNMC wedge cushion: https://www.amazon.de/gp/product/B07G84PJ9X?pf_rd_r=ST9AM3C2GRB6Z2MW987C&pf_rd_p=e74560f2-413d-4879-8f94-12e0d76ee953

 

 

Chairs:

 

 https://www.bol.com/nl/p/mega-beauty-shop-zadelkruk-met-rugleuning-zwart/9200000073312577/

 

https://via-direct.nl/werkstoel-economy-gm200-pur.html

 

https://via-direct.nl/werkstoel-tez160-pur.html

 

https://www.schaefer-shop.nl/p/prosedia-younico-plus-8-bureaustoel-rugleuning-510-mm-zonder-armleuning-zwart?selectedItem=141122

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Hi Bjorn, 

 

I am not sure, if anybody answered your last questions. 

HOKEKI Seat Cushion for Chair: it does not look like it would give you a tipped forward pelvis.

ComfiLife Gel Enhanced seat cushion: the same. It does not really give you an angle. But you could always, with option one and two, put  sth under back part of cushion to rise it a bit higher. Also Hokeki could function with this.

DYNMC wedge cushion: yes, this is the direction you want to go.

 

Chairs, all 4 of them - yes, if you have Stretchsit Cushion. All can be adapted well for good stretchsitting with a Stretchsit Cushion. The second and fourth look the most comfortable through my eyes.

 

Hope this is helpful,

Sabina

Bjornv
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Hello Sabina,

 

Thank you to check them out! Are you sure about the chairs? They all have a quite bucketed seat? 

 

Kind Regards,

 

Björn

sree
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I also have a question on this. I took a class about 2-3 years ago. Due to COVID, as mentioned before, I'm working from home. I have a dining chair I'm using with a sit/stand desk. Even with the desk at it's lowest and a lumbar cusion to give me extra height I still find the chair is not tall enough to meet the height of the desk. Is there a chair you can recommend? I cannot afford the Gokhale chair unfortunately.

Abeja Judy Hummel
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As you can see, it's hard to find a chair that works well, and I don't know how high you need your chair to go for your desk.  If you aren't buying a Gokhale Chair, my best recommendation would be to buy a normal folding chair where you can get your behind behind you and add a stretchsit cushion or at least a towel. Then just put it on some sort of a platform that is easy to move out of the way.  You should be able to put your feet on the platform, too, so that your legs don't dangle.  That's the best I can offer.  Sabine, do you have any ideas?

sree
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I don't think they sell platforms for chairs :) I'd have to build one. I bought a seat booster from Amazon hoping that woiuld give me some height.

The lowest my desk goes is 28.4 inches. That's still about an inch too tall, and sitting/typing causes arm strain. I've taken to work from the bed or the sofa which causes other issues. It seems that finding a solution is difficult if you're petite. I'm 5-1".

If I were to invest in the Gokhale chair would it acommodate a desk at that low range, i.e., would the seat push me high enough?

Kind Regards, Sree

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Hi Sree,

 

Thank you for your question.  The standard chair can be adjusted to a seat height between 17 and 20.5 inches. Additionally we offer some customization options. When ordering you can choose to replace the standard gas lift with a small gas lift or a tall gas lift. The small gas lift would give your chair a seat height between 15 and 18 inches. The tall gas lift would allow for a seat height between 19.5 and 27.5 inches. In additon to the gas lift options we also offer two versions of the Gokhale Pain Free Chair. While the standard chair is designed to cover a broad range of height and is the best option for most, we also offer a petite chair. The petite chair is the same chair as a standard chair with the same height range, however, the seat, backrest, and proportions are smaller. The petite chair is generally recommended for students who are 5 feet or shorter. You can find details and measurements including all of the options listed above here: https://shop.gokhalemethod.com/products/gokhale-pain-free-chair                           And you can find details on the petite chair here: https://shop.gokhalemethod.com/products/petite-gokhale-pain-free-chair                                                                                                                                                                      Please do not hesitate to reach out if you have further questions.

hazael4
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Just be sure to test its adjustability and comfort thoroughly, especially the lumbar support and the overall contour of the chair. Additionally, if you're interested in exploring alternative sources of income, you might find valuable insights on how to make money with cryptocurrency at https://icoholder.com/blog/how-to-make-money-with-cryptocurrency/.

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