When the Butt Goes to Sleep

Sitting in class for those long lectures can be painful to your brain and your butt. First of all, the chairs in classes are never soft and comfy. They’re usually more of what the Spanish Inquisition would use, and definitely not the Inquisition from Monty Python. Secondly, if you are sitting still, nothing is moving. The muscles are stuck in place, blood flow is decreased, and the nerves to the lower part of your body are restricted. You may even have your legs... or your butt... go to sleep. This isn’t good.

So what do I do?

Obviously, the solution is to move! The body loves movement, it craves it. Even if it means standing up and going for a quick walk in the middle of class. It might seem rude, but nothing is more embarrassing than being stuck in your chair after class because your butt is numb. If getting up and moving is simply not an option, shift your weight back and forth a few times, and move your legs and feet around as much as you can. 

Keeping active will help as well. Walking from the car to class is not enough. Walking is transportation, and not a form of exercise. You walk when you shop, and you wouldn’t consider shopping exercise (except for some of you SERIOUS power shoppers, but that’s pushing it). If your idea of exercise is hitting the dance floor at Houston’s every weekend, you might want to look at doing something a little more... sober.

Lastly, when all else fails and that numbness simply won’t go away, try booking a massage. A Registered Massage Therapist can help you with the numbness, tingling, or even pain in your body. With a few good stretches or exercises, we can help you stay limber and mobile, making your dance moves look better on a Friday night.