Back to nature- sitting on floor for health

In this post I am sharing about one habit, which has been quite helpful for me:

Sitting on the floor -
Yes it's that simple.

A few years ago, I had gained weight, rigidity, knee and other health issues, and was unable to sit on floor beyond a few minutes, with difficulty. I had got used to lifestyle of a MNC white-collar employee and needed stuff for my lifestyle. A few years later, after working on my health, today, I avoid using furniture every-time, I possibly can.

Furniture is not much of a requirement, in my opinion, especially in cities & season where temperature is close to normal. It however serves someone else's business requirements, hence all the marketing & stigma attached to it.
I do see, having good quality & quantity of furniture, as a big social status requirement. It is also needed for patients, who have already become sick enough to lose some flexibility and their ability to sit in different postures. This ease and support of chairs, stool etc. everywhere, every-time, is not the need of body. Too much comfort infact, is not good for health but we may have gotten habituated or trapped in modern ways.

Slowly and consciously, with focus on health, I have increased my time on floor, over 3-4 years, as I kept realizing it's benefits in multiple dimensions.

I am on the floor most of the day when possible and sleep on the floor as well.

I do my prayer , eating all 3 meals, reading and ofcourse 'pranayama' on the floor. At work also, I have put a mat and sit on it when reading or working on my own. When I do cooking preparation,  work on plants and clean up , I try either squatting or sitting on floor when feasible.

After each meal I get into 'Vajrasana' for around 10 minutes, when possible. This works great for digestion. While reading /writing, I try to start with 'Vajrasana' posture, as it keeps spine erect and then move into 'Sukhasana' or as comfortable and needed.

I have added some barefoot walking inside my house. Earlier, in my experience, I have noted healing benefits of walking on grass early morning, too.

Recently, even for drinking water, I have added posture of squatting on floor in 'Malasana', once or twice during the day. This is a recommended posture for eating and drinking in Ayurveda, as per my understanding.


Just adding such practices which enable being in touch with the ground, more often, during the day, help in frequent connection with the Earth. This is important as scientifically Earth plays a role similar to that of Earthing wire in Electric cables. It dissipates any excess energy, accumulated over a time period, in our body/mind system. Mother Earth also nourishes us and fulfills any energy deficiency. Our energy gets balanced and the body is normalized, which prevents onset of diseases due to imbalance of energy.

Not only does this practice work wonderfully for health of body &  mind, it also brings simplicity , humbleness,  gratitude to nature, normalcy and peace of mind within. Ego and stress, anxiety have a great chance of reduction too.

Being on furniture is unfortunately disconnecting and not great for our physical/mental/emotional health , nor it generally gives right posture,  as best suitable for our body. However, if possible sitting in any 'yog-asana' on the bed or chair might be better than the default posture per their design, in most cases.

This has been great in my experience, you may also want to try above suggestions and check out for yourself!