There are, of course, lots of ways to hurt your back, but who knew one of them is the way many of us walk around museums?
According to Hyperallergic, posture specialist Mark Josefsburg has come up with the phrase “museum walk” to describe the way museumgoers often take a few steps, stop to take a look at a painting or a sculpture, and do it all over again.
He says it’s a kind of movement that tends to push the energy of our bodies downward.
And because we stop so often, we don’t build up momentum to push that energy back up.
That puts stress on our necks and especially on our backs.
Josefsburg has a solution based on what’s called the Alexander Technique, which helps people undo muscle tension by being more deliberate and mindful about how they move in everyday life.
He says if your body energy moves down too much, push the energy up by letting your knees lead the body forward when you walk.
And when standing, he advises keeping your knees soft rather than locked in place, which makes it easier to distribute your body weight more evenly.
Josefsburg says using a little bit of mental energy to adjust your posture can actually help you focus more on the art.
Then you won’t be thinking about how tired your neck and back feel as you move through the museum.
In Burlington, Ontario, traffic officers got a call about a distracted driver.
It wasn’t a smartphone that had the driver’s attention; instead, he was playing a flute with both hands along to some music on his iPod.
While driving.
They didn’t announce what song it was, but I’m thinking Jethro Tull? Or maybe Lizzo?
Suffering From Lower Back Pain While Visiting a Museum? You’re Not Alone (Hyperallergic)
Driver in Burlington caught playing flute with both hands, police say (CP24)