11 Intimate Benefits of a Rocking Chair for Your Health and Home

What are the benefits of a rocking chair? Imagine sitting in a chair that feels like a hug while rocking you to sleep, with piping hot tea, and a lovely view. We all have that one grandparent, uncle, or auntie who is married to their rocking chair. They read books, do taxes, drink tea, and watch movies, all while glued to their rocking chairs. 

Rocking chairs give you that comfort that no other furniture piece can provide. When we were designing our rocking chairs, we wanted them to be your special home inside your home. Before investing in any furniture, we look at its benefits. Here you go, enjoy reading the benefits of rocking chairs for your health and home. 

Interesting History of Rocking Chair you never heard:

Before going further, let's sift back through the pages of history to a few centuries, when rocking chairs were still a new concept. 

Do you know that the word rocking chair was not in the dictionary before 1787? Rocking chairs are truly an American invention. Though we don't know the real inventor, Benjamin Franklin is often credited with inventing rocking chairs. 

Rocking chairs were mainly used in gardens. If you sit for a few hours continuously, to loosen the stiffness, we slope back, folding our hands. That's the main idea behind the rocking chair. 

18th-century Americans were mostly physical workers. They needed something to sit and enjoy comfort. The rocking chair easily allowed them with its ergonomic design. The two curves on both sides of the chair gently give that rocking motion, allowing people to sit without the need for rocking manually. 

Is a Rocking Chair Good For Your Health?

Rocking chairs are the best friends for people under long-term care treatment. Frequently using a rocking chair improves blood circulation, relieves body pain, and reduces stress. 

The New York State Department of Health ran a study where they examined 25 long-term care therapy residents. Six weeks they were rocking in their chair, and for another six weeks they remained without rocking. This study showed that during these weeks, residents were rocked; they saw progress in their physical and emotional health. 

In another study where 11 patients were studied, one-third of those who rocked for 80 minutes daily required less pain medication. Their overall behavior, anxiety, tension, and depression improved. These results conclude that the benefits of rocking chairs affect both physical and mental health. 

11 benefits of a rocking chair 

A rocking chair doesn't just have to be a senior citizen’s best friend. Investing in a good rocking chair will make a lot of your life easier and add a vintage charm to your home. Let’s quickly look at the 11 benefits of a rocking chair. 

1. Goodbye to Insomnia

If you are a bad sleeper or simply someone who is suffering from Insomnia, a good rocking chair will be your lifesaver. Research proves that rocking motion increases the sleep quality during a nap. The rocking chair simply imitates the movement experienced in the womb. 

Rocking motion also helps increase the amount of deep sleep stage and the nighttime sleep quality. Rocking chairs is one of the best non-pharmacological ways to promote restful sleep. This way, you can say goodbye to insomnia. 

2. Heal Your Stubborn Back Pain

Rocking chair’s amazing benefits also help you relieve your back pain. A sedentary lifestyle is common among young professionals these days. We are sitting for long hours in front of the screen. This directly injures our back and neck. 

Doctors propose rocking chairs as a therapy for lower back pain. People who underwent surgery or pain induced by a herniated disk, a bulging disk, or chronic back pain can be treated with a rocking chair. 

3. Hugs you from behind

A rocking chair designed with soft, fluffy fabric and cushion to support your back gives you the comfort of being hugged from behind. How many of us love it when our partner or parents hug us from behind? 

Now, a rocking chair can bring you the same. Designed with rich fabric can feel like a breeze on your stressed skin. 

4. Destress and relax

A long day filled with juggling between tasks and roles, you came back home, changed into a fresh set of clothes, make a cup of tea, and found comfort in your new rocking chair. Well, a rocking chair is another non-pharmacological intervention for depression therapy. 

In a study, sixty-three elderly people were analysed about the use of rocking chairs. The study concluded that elderly people find comfort and stress relief with a few hours of slow rocking in the evening. Many reported they don't need sleep medication for healthy and long hours of sleep.  

5. Strengthen your pelvic floor

A rocking chair engages your body, including your abdomen and pelvic floor muscles. Rocking is low-impact strength training that works well on the regions of your abdomen and pelvic region. Rocking exercise has been proven as an inexpensive, simple, and effective therapy for painful menstruation. 

6.  Straighten your bad posture

Slouching when working or writing affects your posture by realigning your spinal alignment. Instead of spending energy on rigorous exercise and investing in posture correctors, a good ergonomically designed rocking chair can straighten your posture. 

In a rocking chair, you tilt your back while rocking back and forth. This soothing movement ensures optimal spinal alignment and improves flexibility. 

7. Increase blood circulation

In a normal chair, you just sit straight , without any movement. But a rocking chair sways you to move back and forth. This rhythmic motion evokes blood circulation and avoids swelling. The continuous movement helps in de-stressing the leg muscles. Lack of blood circulation can cause blood clots and edema. 

Research conducted with Alzerimer’s patients rocking for 1 to 2 hours a day suggested, rocking can enhance cerebral perfusion. They also needed less pain medication. 

8. Burn extra calories without breaking your body 

Exercise is crucial for elderly people. In a study conducted with home-based elderly women, they found it motivating to continue exercising with a rocking-chair exercise program. Instead of forcing them to the gym or yoga, rocking chair exercises are a way better alternative for regular physical movement. 

Rocking comes under thermogenesis, non-exercise activity. A continued 1 hour of rocking will burn at least 150 calories. Though it might not work like a high-intensity cardio or lifting gym, new moms, elderly people can work with this to avoid laborious activity. 

9. Calm ADHD symptoms

ADHD, Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, can be settled with a rocking chair. The focused rocking movement can soothe the kids.  These kids deal with lack of attention; research shows that a good rocking chair will help the kids bring back focus and attention. 

The rocking movement is kind of stimulating, which helps reduce stress. By reducing stress, improved concentration, rocking chairs can help kids vent out their frustration. 

10. Sneak break for guilty pleasures

Continuous long hours of sitting in front of a screen or long physical labor are already stressful for both body and mental health. With an ergonomic rocking chair, you will steal more breaks for that guilty pleasure. 

Here's our suggestion: Every 1 or 2 hours, ask for a water or toilet break and spend 5 to  10 minutes rocking yourself in a rocking chair. You will feel revived and energized to work. 

11. Add a vintage charm 

Rocking chairs come with many new designs, colors, and looks. Buying the right rocking chair has the added benefit of making your home look more perfect and charming. 

How to choose the best rocking chair?

Choosing furniture, especially rocking chairs, can be a  little tricky. Because it is not just going to serve one purpose, but it is going to be more than comfort, it should serve the purpose as well. You can find the same rocking chair you are looking for at PhirkCraft. Let's look at our expert tip to choose your next rocking chair. 

1. Decide why you are buying

2. Pick a place- Living room? Office room? Balcony or Porch? 

3. Analyse the theme of your room

4. Define your budget 

5. Consider the functions you want 

6. Look for the material you want

More than adding a charming touch to your home, the right rocking chair acts as your exercise companion, stress reliever, and a partner to vent out. Choosing the right rocking chair not just makes you happy but also receives compliments from your friends and praises from your parents.

 
The above-mentioned benefits of rocking chairs are just the tip of the iceberg. You will only find the true benefit of a rocking chair if you use it for yourself.