From the days of Benjamin Franklin till date, rocking chairs have experienced growing demand and are now known to be one of the top furniture to own in a home due to its many therapeutic and relaxing benefits. Due to the benefits of rocking in a rocking chair:
1. Blood pressure falls and respiration slows, yet energy is being exerted in shifting your body weight back and forth. As a result, it is a good exercise for the mind, body and spirit, and helps those with sedentary lifestyle to achieve muscle tone through manageable, non-weight bearing exercise. Instead of lying in bed, opt to rock instead! You will rock away depression and stress, and lose some weight in the process too.
2. It has been shown through research revealed by Rocking Chair Therapy Research that rocking helps students with ADD and ADHD better adapt and focus in the learning environment. It is assumed that the motion of the rocking chair can accommodate the need to keep moving while these students are studying and listening.
3. As recommended in an article written by the staff at Mayo clinic, one of the ways to relieve back pain during pregnancy is to sit and stand with care. Sitting with feet slightly elevated and choosing a chair that supports your back are two of the steps advised to take. Most rocking chairs, like the glider rockers, have cushioned back supports that relieve back pain. When sitting you can place your feet on an ottoman or a low step stool.
4. Nursing mothers recovering from C-sections reduced their hospital stay by a full day by rocking regularly during the day. This is evident from the fact that in most hospitals, if not all, rocking chairs are provided. I can personally attest to the benefit and speedy healing that rocking provided to me. Whenever I sat down, after resting my feet and cuddling my baby, I had to exercise my muscles and use my body weight to get back up. It also helps in practicing good posture.
5. The back and forth motion of a rocking chair provides social, emotional and motor development. It helps calm crying babies, makes them smile and hold their heads up. Its roomy seat and armrest are high enough to make breastfeeding or bottle feeding easy and comfortable. It is important that these chairs are sturdy and solid. The mother-child or father-child attachment is also fostered. Rocking chairs are very useful bedroom furniture as well.
6. As in the case of Dr. Milton Erickson who was born in 1901 and later became the world's leading practitioner of hypnosis, he contracted polio at the age of 17, and was told he would never walk again. Dr Erickson started rocking and discovered his ability to convert past memories of muscular movement into small motions while he sat in the chair.
7. A prenatal benefit is that it is believed to promote the development of the fetal nervous system. It has been quoted that Anne Ayres; an American nerve psychologist recommends that at the start of the 10th week of pregnancy, women should rock 5-10 minutes twice a day.
8. Many pregnancy support articles and web sites recommend rocking in a rocking chair to prevent the development of varicose veins by stimulating circulation and improving muscle tone.
References
Rocking Chair Therapy Research: http://www.rockingchairtherapy.org/research.html.
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