Episode #34. Fix your desk posture & move more at work to feel better with Alison Thomson
Are you suffering from desk-related pain, but can’t escape your screen for long periods?
If sitting at a desk feels like a constant struggle, it might be time to reassess your workspace. In this episode, I chat with Alison Thomson, aka 'The Safety Elf,' a workplace posture expert who helps individuals and businesses optimise their desk setups for comfort and productivity.
We dive into practical tips that go beyond the usual advice of just "sit up straight"—because we all know it's not that simple!
Alison shares actionable strategies for creating an ergonomic environment, whether you’re working in an office or from home. We talk about everything from adjusting your chair and desk height to adding movement breaks and simple posture tweaks.
If you're tired of the aches and pains that come from sitting too long, Alison’s down-to-earth guidance will empower you to make small, but powerful changes that will make a big difference.
Tune in for a fun and informative conversation that could change the way you work—and leave you smiling, as it did me, with my favourite guest sign-off ever!
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Desk-Based Challenges
05:56 The Importance of Ergonomics
11:59 Creating a Movement-Friendly Environment
18:08 Implementing Practical Solutions for Movement
24:04 Addressing Neck and Head Posture
35:45 Adapting Workspaces for Home and Office
40:57 Identifying and Addressing Pain Points
46:30 The Role of Management in Workplace Wellbeing
About this week’s guests:
Alison Thomson
Alison is passionate about improving the health, comfort and productivity of desk-based working - wherever and whatever that desk may be. Making small changes in our desk-based habits, behaviours and set-up can make a big positive difference to our bodies.
Connect here:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alisonthomsonthesafetyelf/
Website: https://www.thesafetyelf.co.uk/the-posture-elf
More about your host, Wendy
Wendy (50) founded Reclaim Movement after a running injury at 40 turned into 4 years of chronic pain. In her search for answers and to reclaim her own movement again she discovered natural movement. The philosophy of training real life practical movements to be able to keep using them as we age, coupled with the benefit of using strengthening and mobilising whole-body movement patterns that are underused in today’s modern world made her realise she had found a way to move for life.
Wendy’s aim is to help people embrace a movement-rich life, at any age, to improve mobility, strength and confidence to keep moving well and doing the things they love for as long as they want.
MovNat Level 1 certified & Functional Range Conditioning certified, she coaches online group classes live & by replay in the Reclaim Movement membership as well as online and in-person private coaching in Oxford.
Find out more about Reclaim Movement:
Instagram: https://instagram.com/reclaim.movement
YouTube: https://youtube.com/@reclaim.movement
Facebook: https://facebook.com/reclaim.movement
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