Can you get off the floor without using your hands?

[Anonymous]

I think it has a lot to do with flexibility. I don't have trouble doing it because I can bend so that my knees are basically at my chest, which makes it quite easy to stand up or sit down smoothly. My DH, who is less flexible but in good shape overall, was able to do it but only with the cross-leg version because he can't get his knees bent as deeply as mine.

[Anonymous]

I never could sit cross legged when I was in elementary school, even kindergarten. Just always had extremely tight joints. So no way in hell can I do this now. But I can do a million squats and sit ups without issue. I do a lot of weight training and balance exercises but flexibility has always been really tough for me because of my insanely tight joints.

[Anonymous]

Nope. I have a bad back.

[Anonymous]

So what is the determining factor? Core strength? Height? Flexibility?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:All these people who say they are doing it are taking a knee at least.

No way. I’m actually sedentary. I easily did it without momentum or a knee. Just as easily as you stand up from sitting in a chair. My extremely athletic dh who works out 10+ hours a week needed momentum.

I’m kind of surprised.

[Anonymous]

I’m 45. I thought it’d be hard to stand up, but I just easily sat down and stood up with no hands or knees (from a criss cross position). I’m on the thin side but not skinny. And I exercise 3-4 times a week, but nothing very intense (dumbells/workout videos).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Practicing this one thing won't make you immortal. It's predictive because if you don't specifically practice this one skill, then it's an easy correlation to general strength and balance.

Yeah the “practicers” in this thread are mistaking symptom for illness. You’re not curing the illness by fixing one symptom.

Nobody is saying this.

[Anonymous]

I duu it s or without a knee but with a little jump at the end.

[Anonymous]

Yes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think it has a lot to do with flexibility. I don't have trouble doing it because I can bend so that my knees are basically at my chest, which makes it quite easy to stand up or sit down smoothly. My DH, who is less flexible but in good shape overall, was able to do it but only with the cross-leg version because he can't get his knees bent as deeply as mine.

Yes, that is what the article says. This has to do with flexibility:

“But it's revealing for those of us who are 40-plus, too, because it calls for flexibility, balance, motor coordination, and, most importantly, ample muscle power relative to body weight. If you can't do it, your health and longevity may be at risk.“

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think it has a lot to do with flexibility. I don't have trouble doing it because I can bend so that my knees are basically at my chest, which makes it quite easy to stand up or sit down smoothly. My DH, who is less flexible but in good shape overall, was able to do it but only with the cross-leg version because he can't get his knees bent as deeply as mine.

That makes sense

[Anonymous]

I’m 55 and overweight. BMI 27.4

Yes I can.

[Anonymous]

Does not using your arms mean keeping them still? I sit down easily no matter what but I have to use the outside of one leg to stand up again if I have to do it with my hands interlaced together behind my back as opposed to holding them in front of me to counterbalance. I used to be pretty flexy but it’s gotten worse since I had kids and stopped having so much time to work out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So what is the determining factor? Core strength? Height? Flexibility?

Musculoskeletal fitness. Basically do you have the muscle to lift yourself out of that position.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Does not using your arms mean keeping them still? I sit down easily no matter what but I have to use the outside of one leg to stand up again if I have to do it with my hands interlaced together behind my back as opposed to holding them in front of me to counterbalance. I used to be pretty flexy but it’s gotten worse since I had kids and stopped having so much time to work out.

You can hold them in front of you or to the side for balance, the goal is to not rest them on the floor for balance and leverage to push off from.