| Some people have introduced the concept of using | | | | proper height for typing on the keyboard at a standard |
| yoga balls instead of office chairs at work. There are | | | | desk. This can lead to stream muscles in the shoulder |
| advantages and disadvantages to using these balls as | | | | as the person tries to keep their arms up to type. |
| the chair. | | | | Unprofessional-while it may be okay in certain |
| The advantages that are usually claimed by | | | | industries, a person sitting on a brightly colored ball may |
| proponents of using a yoga ball include: improved | | | | be difficult to take seriously. For example, a customer |
| posture, strength building, reduced cost, and the cool | | | | at a bank applying for a loan to buy a house may |
| factor. | | | | wonder if getting into debt with this particular bank is a |
| Posture-because of the way these balls work, when | | | | good idea while trying to chat with a loan officer sitting |
| balancing on top to use it as a chair, it forces you to | | | | on giant sphere. |
| align your spine into a perfect vertical alignment. It is | | | | Fatigue-while it is true that sitting on these balls does |
| very difficult to slouch while sitting atop a yoga ball. | | | | provide exercise, it can also cause one to become |
| There is a distinct advantage to using these balls | | | | tired at the end of the day. It is perfectly fine if you |
| because it can train your body to sit perfectly erect | | | | have both a yoga ball and a regular office chair. |
| even when you're not using the balls. | | | | However, if you only have room for one, and you |
| Exercise-keeping your spine perfectly aligned | | | | choose the yoga ball, you will regret it. There will be |
| strengthens the muscles in your back and stomach. It | | | | times when you want to sit and rest, recline, or stretch |
| provides low-level effort work out for your core | | | | in your chair. These things are difficult to do on a yoga |
| muscles. By using these muscles a little bit every day, | | | | ball. |
| you can develop a stronger back and avoid back | | | | Adjustments-on a regular office chair a person can roll |
| injuries in the future. | | | | from side to side adjusting themselves from directly in |
| Cost-the yoga balls cost much less than even the | | | | front of the keyboard to some other part of the desk, |
| least expensive office chair. | | | | for example, where there may be some paperwork |
| Cool factor-with many companies trying to create an | | | | they need to fill out. When sitting on a yoga ball, it is |
| atmosphere of fun for the employees, walking into a | | | | difficult to reposition oneself. Aside from slight |
| room full of richly colored spheres instead of the | | | | movement from side to side, one must stand up, |
| standard gray and black office chairs can have a | | | | position the ball, and then sit down again. |
| visual impact that is very cheery. It is very cool for | | | | Overall, the concept of using a yoga ball or a chair at |
| company to do something so different and outside the | | | | the office is fun, but gimmicky. If you have the space |
| normal stuff the way business has always been done. | | | | to accommodate both a ball and a regular chair, the |
| In spite of these advantages, there are some real | | | | idea is perfectly acceptable, as long as the |
| disadvantages to using yoga balls instead of regular | | | | atmosphere is still professional enough for what is |
| office chairs. | | | | needed to be done. |
| Height-most of the balls do not position a person at the | | | | |