You Can Teach An Old Dog New Tricks

[barry1010]

Or learn them yourself. For many, many years I have been trying to stand up from sitting on the floor without using my arms or hands. A simple thing for many but I couldn't do it even as a kid.

Last night I did it! Twice, just to be sure. It wasn't elegant, or skillful, but I felt as if I'd won a gold medal.

Next challenge - do it without using my knees. I'll get back to you in ten years or so :D

[Barsel]

Well done barry . I'm still working on trying to sit on the floor!

[emmie]

i am just able to get off the sofa, even then its using the cushions to hoist myself up, so well done you.

[barry1010]

Thanks, both :) I watched my parents go in to decline with their lack of mobility so have done stretching exercises for years - I'm not ultra flexible, can't put my head on my knees or anything like that - but I'm sure I'd be less flexible if I didn't stretch every day.
I've never been able to run and have never been able to jump from standing still, I seem to lack co-ordination, but best to do what we can, while we can

[aelmpvw]

// trying to stand up from sitting on the floor without using my arms or hands//
i struggle using my arms and hands . . .

[Peter Pedant]

what about sitting up and panting ? - wiv goo goo gimme expression

[Peter Pedant]

d o you use your brain in all this?

[rowanwitch]

I can't even get into the floor without swearing now, getting up requires a crawl to furniture that is stable enough to balance with.

[jennyjoan]

I think we all have difficulty in getting up. I dread dusting the TV table and below it as it is so hard getting up.

Barry could you give us a few tips on what you do.

[youngmafbog]

Next challenge, try it after a couple of bottles of wine. :-)

[barry1010]

Jenny, I just do very basic stretching exercises for about 20 minutes every day. I start by standing and do head rolls to ease the neck and shoulders; arm stretches; leg stretches; circle the arms to stretch out the chest; hands on hips and circle the waist and bottom; bend over to try and touch the toes - hold and breathe. Lie on floor, knees to chest - raise shoulders and head off the floor; raise legs to sky one at a time - pull gently; sit on floor, legs apart bend forward hands on the floor - try to 'walk' hands towards feet; legs apart try to touch toes left foot - then right foot; lie on stomach - pull legs one at a time so foot touches bottom. I do more than that but nothing dramatic.
There are plenty of routines to watch on YouTube - go very easy to start with and don't even begin if you have any sort of health problems that could cause you problems. There are seated stretching exercises on YouTube that almost anyone at any age can do and they are a great way to start

[Zacs-Master]

Just one question.....why?

[woofgang]

someone has to

[barry1010]

What if I lost my arms or the use of my arms one day? I would be stuck like a beached whale if I fell over :(

[Tilly2]

I don't see how you could get up from the floor without using your knees and arms unless you are a Woodentop puppet. The Woodentops just spring into action, as does Spotty dog. :-)

[barry1010]

Some people can Tilly, they can stand straight up from sitting cross legged

[Tilly2]

I'll give that a try, Barry.

[jennyjoan]

Thanks Barry but by the sound/read of all that - I do think you are an acrobat.

[zebo]

//Some people can Tilly, they can stand straight up from sitting cross legged//

Many many years ago I used to be able to sit on the floor with my legs crossed under me and get up in a sort of cantilever motion, keeping my legs crossed, no hands involved!

[barry1010]

Like this, Zebo? https://youtu.be/n_0MuVsyHfQ