Two-Legged Balancing Chair Keeps Muscles Engaged All Day

Sitting all day is killing us slowly, but standing all day isn’t a commitment most people are willing to make. Could there be a happy balance between the two extremes?

French designer Benoit Malta came up with a middle ground that isn’t as unhealthy as sitting all day, but is more comfortable than standing for many hours at a time.

The Inactivité chair has just two legs, arms and a seat. As the user sits in it, he or she is forced to actively engage the core and leg muscles to stay balanced and avoid toppling over.

The concept is similar to sitting on a balance ball to work. When you sit on it, you are constantly engaging muscles but not to the point that you feel fatigued. Your feet don’t get sore and you can shift your position as needed.

The designer calls the theory behind Inactivité “bearable discomfort.” It might also be necessary (and even welcome) discomfort for all of the office workers forced to sit still for long stretches of time every day.