Can you stand up without using your hands?

[Emori]

I didn't use to be able to but I've been going to the gym for a year, doing a variety of strength, yoga, pilates and spin classes. And now I can do it!

I am mid fifties and feeling very pleased with myself.

there are some good online video's that teach you a variety of techniques.
i gather it can come in handy knowing how should you be all alone and need to get back up.

Let me try...yes,..not from sitting cross legged though.

My hips aren’t flexible enough fr the cross-legged way, even after eight years of yoga. I can do it by swinging my legs to the side and getting to my knees from there, though.

Yes thankfully I can, I had a C section a few weeks ago, so I often have to get up from cross legged holding the baby. I have to swing my legs to the side and get up onto my knees first.

Weirdly though if I crouch down for too long sometimes I get stuck because my abs are gone.

Yes. Late 50s. It's one of the things I think you should be able to do as you age. My gym goals are strength, mobility, flexibility, stability and resilience. I do Pilates, yoga and weights.

the Utter madness of insomnia and mumsnet. Just stood up from cross legged fairly easily but I should be asleep

Same.

from someone who’s been on thyroxine for mt whole adult life resistance training / anything that strengthens muscle is really important. It was something I always noticed but only took seriously in the last couple of years / menopause. Muscle does weaken more quickly with hyper and hypothyroidism over longer periods of time when not treated properly. And then takes a few months to build up again. There are definitely days when I’m weaker too. I’m finding more focus on protein really helps (esp plant protein) but the biggest difference has been adding creatine to a pea protein shake after exercise. I only started at Easter. It’s taken a few months. I’d been doing resistance training for 18 months prior to this. I did a bit of googling and there were some bits on creatine helping.

it also helps when you go through periods of not enough sleep, which is common for us thyroidy people.

It is when you are older. Watch people stand up from a chair next time you are in a cafe or waiting room. Most will use the arms or out their hands on their legs to push up, people do it without knowing. I teach Pilates and before we stand up from the chair all are reminded to not touch their legs or the chair. Takes getting used to for it to become a habit, this does really develop leg and core strength.

well done op on your new lifestyle. It’s wonderful to feel that strength and energy x

The only times I’ve needed to use my hands to get up was when heavily pregnant. I do exercise regularly, but didn’t think anything of being able to get up without hands as I thought that was the norm.

Its 6.30 am and my partner has just asked me wtf am I doing and to get back in bed but yes i can 💪 💅

No. And it pisses me off.

Never gave my fitness a second thought. I could do the splits , cartwheels and backbends until 49 ( like I enjoyed the feeling, so would do bendy stretchy stuff whenever)
Went through menopause and my body turned old within 6 months. It’s frightening and sad.

I can do it easily if I lean leftwards and come onto my left lower-leg first. But if I try to do it straight from a normal sit (with or without legs crossed) I feel as though I might as well be trying to fly.

I'm sad. I do lots of yoga and am moderately fit and active. But a video I just watched demonstrating the straight-from-cross-legged stand said that If you can't do this you have serious mobility problems.

I'm 62 but that can't be relevant bcs one of the women demonstrating the movement was around my age.

I've been flicking my dressing gown out from behind me like a concert pianist flipping his jacket tails back before he sits at the piano. And then scrabbling about like an upturned tortoise.

I can't even sit cross legged these days - a hip operation a few years ago and then a double leg break last year means I don't have the suppleness!
I struggled to get up from the floor, or out the bath, at all after the leg break but I can manage that OK now. But I miss the days when I was supple .
Well done to you OP for the work you've put in.

That’s really good going. I can do it (many times in a row) but only by rocking forward and putting one knee on the floor, if that makes sense. I can’t do it from static sitting. You have inspired me though!

🤣🤣🤣

I need to learn how to do this.

Omg no?! Damn

I can't.

My hairdresser recently told me that sitting low or on the floor is one of the reasons why Japanese people live longer - because they have to get up from a low seating position. Makes them use those muscles all the time. I don’t know about longer living but it makes sense to not make things too easy for yourself.

Since my 65th birthday I belatedly started to look after myself and can now get up from the floor with no hands. Also walk down and up stairs not using hand rail or looking at the steps. Downwards took a hit but I’ve got the hang of it now and do it automatically

also brush teeth and shower one legged, and finish hot shower with Hurston cold water. Thinking about the one legged thing help take my mind off the cold water till my body adjusts and feels super hot

all inspired by a lady i saw in an airport, after security, putting each hiking boot back on and lacing them up all standing not needing even to leaned against something for balance. She said was a yoga teacher and liked the control over her body.

Yes - I always have been able to, even in periods when I've been very fat. I have extremely flexible joints, I can put my feet in my mouth (literally!). I'm in my 50s now and despite various aches and pains, my joints haven't got any less flexible.

From crossed legs (I have just done it to check my method) I

• uncross legs
• draw my knees together
• roll sideways into a kneeling position
• stand up

Well done OP! I can't do this (mid forties) but I'm aware how important it is to regain it. Don't know when I lost the ability. I've started doing home workouts with weights and I think my leg strength is good. It's the hip flexibility and possibly core strength that stops me achieving it. I'm trying to incorporate more flexibility training. You've given me hope that I can reverse this sad situation!