Ergo Depot's Awesome Blog

Active working solutions and ideas. Plus a bunch of other cool stuff. Maybe even cat gifs.

[ergodepot]

Sit, Stand, Evolve

If Rocket Mission’s Evolve desk wasn’t cool enough, it now comes in a variety of hardwoods, finishes and top sizes that will revolutionize your work space! Wood working genius Vincent Lehman takes it to the next level with the construction of the Evolve desk - a solid wood body equipped with three solid wood drawers and a solid wood opening rear panel (gotta love integrated wire management). Pretty solid, am I right? Pair that with a Jarvis height-adjustable desk frame and you are ready for take off!

Originally crafted with beautiful walnut, now you may opt for maple or cherry hardwoods and different drawer colors. Ch-ch-check out these new hardwoods and finishes you get to choose from:

Need a maple shell and white drawers? Done!

How about a cherry shell with black drawers? Check!

But, wait. Have you scoped out the walnut shell with the cherry drawers? What a combo!

Available in 4, 5 and 6 foot options, you may customize your Evolve desk with maple, walnut or a cherry hardwood shell along with maple, walnut, cherry, black or white drawers. Not to mention, you get to pair this striking desktop with a black, grey or white Jarvis standing desk frame! Find more info on our Evolve desk webpage!

[ergodepot]

Dealz Dealz Dealz

We’ve got that Spring cleanin’ bug and a crazy collection of active office furniture. This deadly combination only leads to one thing: an epic warehouse sale! In or around the Portland area? Pencil us in for Friday, June 10th and/or Saturday, June 11th for some serious deals - up to 75% OFF desks, chairs and accessories, say what?!

Not to name drop, but to name drop, you’ll find Jarvis desks, HAG Capiscos, Varier kneeling chairs, Muvman sit-stand stools, and, oh my gosh, so much more! These open box items, warehouse specials and brand new products are ready to leave our warehouse and find their forever home in your office space.

If the thought of an active work space has ever crossed your mind, finding us on Swan Island June 10th-11th is a must! Visit our website for more info.

[ergodepot]

Hi, I'm 6' 5" and wanted to know which if any desks would be a good fit for me. Thanks!

Jarvis would probably be your best bet. It maxes out at about 49″ and has a plethora of options as well as a great warranty.

I’m 6′2″ and use a Jarvis at about 44″ with a monitor arm. If you need any more height, you can also add casters which give you another 2″.

Jarvis Laminate - http://www.ergodepot.com/Jarvis_Desk_p/jrv.htm

Jarvis Bamboo - http://www.ergodepot.com/Jarvis_Desk_Bamboo_p/jrv-b.htm

Cheers,

Eric

[ergodepot]

Just installed an electric base on to an old barn door and it really looks cool Was setting the adjustments for my wife and all of a sudden Er2 started flashing and now it's stuck. Ideas?

Sounds like a cool configuration! You just need to reset your desk. Hold the down arrow for 15 seconds. The desk will begin lowering at half speed. Continue holding the button until the desk lowers all the way down, then rises 1/2 inch and falls again. Your desk should now behanve normally again :)

[ergodepot]

Video Review: Active Stool Comparison Mobis & Muvman

The active sitting category just gets more and more exciting. Muvman has been a favorite of ours since we began importing it from Germany two years ago. Mobis is a new option from focaluprightfurniture  that's not only incredibly comfortable but fully committed to movement. 

Both of these sit-stand stools are great options for many reasons, so we decided to take a quick look at them together. Check out the video and let us know what you think. 

[ergodepot]

Get High With Jarvis this weekend. 

Ergo Depot wants you to get high at work, and Jarvis is the desk for the job. Stable, reliable, and totally handsome, Jarvis will quickly become your new favorite coworker.

Jarvis is available in three frame colors and dozens of top options, plus fast and free shipping.

Jarvis is ready to roll.

Jarvis is the sit-stand desk that gets you high.

[ergodepot]

Review: Introducing the MFlex

It takes a very special monitor arm to bring the word “revolutionary” to mind. After all, monitor arms have been seen in almost every office for the last decade, people know the long list of benefits, and there are already monitor arms built to hold up to six flat panel monitors. So why did we think of ways to reconfigure our desks to make room for the newest monitor arm on the market? Because there’s really nothing else like it out there. Humanscale’s M/Flex monitor arm is the most versatile and dynamic monitor support system available today. Its sustainable design—not just the parts but the philosophy–ensure it’s the last monitor arm system you’ll ever need. The key difference between the M/Flex system and all other monitor arms on the market is the scalable design, allowing you to upgrade from one to six monitors without disrupting your current configuration. The modular system works by adding additional arms to the existing post simply by stacking them. Check out the video below for a demonstration of how straightforward the M/Flex system is.

We have had a chance to use the M/Flex M2 model and it’s just as easy to use as the standard M2 monitor arm. The dynamic arm links make it incredibly easy to adjust and find a comfortable position. For heavier monitors, the M/Flex M8 will be available during the first quarter of 2013, and we look forward to getting our hands on it when it arrives.

[ergodepot]

Hi Ergo Depot! Can you do a comparison of the Muvman and the Varier Move? I've read up about them individually, but it'd be really helpful to hear about them side by side.

Hey there! We're definitely planning to dig into some more video content in the coming months - I'll add a Muvman vs. Varier Move Stool comparison to our idea list :)

In the meantime, if you have any specific questions feel free to call us at 888.508.3725 (or if you're near Portland or SF stop by one of our locations)!

-Collin (Ergo Depot SF)

[ergodepot]

Sustainable Seating: HAG Capisco Puls

There are plenty of companies out there who describe themselves as “green” or “sustainable” just because they use recycled packaging materials and compost their coffee grounds.  

Then there are companies like HAG, who truly practice sustainability in not just packaging, but in manufacturing, component materials, and durability of their products. Take HAG’s Capisco Puls, for example. Not only is the chair 95% recyclable and made of primarily recycled content, HAG has issued an environmental report that details the energy consumption and global warming impact. This attention to detail in the manufacturing process gives you an idea of the strong commitment HAG has made to sustainability in its products. From HAG: Part of that evolution is a deeper understanding of what it means to be “sustainable” and a commitment to integrating the social, environmental and economic aspects of sustainability into our policies, our practices, our designs, and our culture.

What good is green manufacturing if the product itself doesn’t last more than a year or two before you will need to replace it? Not much. HAG backs up its products with one of the best warranties in the industry. For more on the environmental product summary of the HAG Capisco Puls, click here to download the fact sheet. Information on indoor air quality, LEED credits, material content plus other important factors are available for all HAG products. For specifics on the company’s corporate perspective, check out this link. They even ship packages using alternative fuel when available. Show me the numbers. So how exactly does the Capisco Puls stack up? Material Content:

Aluminum: 94% recycled content

Steel: 14% recycled content

Recyclable Materials:

Post Consumer Recycled Content 24%

Aggregate total (PCRC + 1/2 PIRC) 24%

Recyclable 95%

Ergo Depot is committed to sustainability in our products and the manufacturers we chose to work with. We would be more than happy to answer questions regarding the environmental impact of any of our products. 

[npr]

Doctors Increasingly Ignore Evidence In Treating Back Pain

The misery of low back pain often drives people to the doctor to seek relief. But doctors are doing a pretty miserable job of treating back pain, a study finds.

Physicians are increasingly prescribing expensive scans, narcotic painkillers and other treatments that don’t help in most cases, and can make things a lot worse. Since 1 in 10 of all primary care visits are for low back pain, this is no small matter.

What does help? Some ibuprofen or other over-the-counter painkiller, and maybe some physical therapy. That’s the evidence-based protocol. With that regimen, most people’s back pain goes away within three months.

Read the rest of the story on NPR’s Shots health blog.

(Photo: iStockPhoto)

[ergodepot]

Exercise promotes health, reducing most people’s risks of developing diabetes and growing obese. But just how, at a cellular level, exercise performs this beneficial magic — what physiological steps are involved and in what order — remains mysterious to a surprising degree.

Several striking new studies, however, provide some clarity by showing that exercise seems able to drastically alter how genes operate.

It's incredible to think that we have the ability to change how our genes behave by doing simple things in our daily lives. We found this NYT blog post covering several new studies on how exercise impacts our cells inspiring.  

[ergodepot]

Focal and the evolution of the standing desk - Wakefield

Look what we’ve done to food.

What used to come from the ground and be quite good for you, is now flavored in a factory off the Jersey turnpike. We know how that’s worked out for our health.

You might say the same about the workstation.

Through the early 1900s, most people stood at their office desks. Franklin, Churchill, Da Vinci, Nabokov, and Hemingway all preferred it. But most of us now sit – and die faster as a result. 20% faster, if you believe a recent study cited by the New York Times.

Riding a recent resurgence in standing desks comes Rhode Island-based startup Focal Upright Furniture. We’ve never seen anything quite like its Locus Workstation, which includes a full-articulated desk, footrest, and seat.

The seat is the most remarkable. Inspired by an old tractor seat (but hopefully softer), it has you perched somewhere between sitting and standing, a position found to be the most ideal by founder and designer Martin Keen.

You may recognize Keen’s name. Apparently a master of the hybrid, he previously made his mark with the eponymous footwear company he founded, known for its half-shoe, half-sandal favored by outdoor enthusiasts.

The full Locus setup from Focal will run you more than $2,000 – not cheap. But what price for a longer life? Check it out here.

Or, if it’s a less expensive standing option you seek, check out these IKEA hacks – where a couple hundred bucks will get you upright.

Now go forth (and get up already).

Nitty Gritty:

1899: Year School Hygiene is published, stating a seated desk can “injure the abdominal organs and the circulation”

1977: Year Nabokov died at 78 from bronchitis (not from sitting)

3: Moans, in descending pitch, uttered by Nabokov upon his death according to his son

[humanscale-blog]

Defining Ergonomics

Though ergonomics may be a buzzword these days, it’s relevant to all of us. You hear the word often, whether it’s being used to promote chairs, jeans or even sports drinks, but what does it actually mean?

It’s simple, really. Ergonomics is defined as the science of fitting the task and the tools to the user to maximize productivity while reducing discomfort, fatigue and injury. Derived from the Greek words “ergon,” which means “to work,” and “nomos,” which means “natural laws," ergonomics applies to anywhere you work.

In addition to the traditional office environment, ergonomics is also applicable to alternative workplaces and even home offices. Whether you’re sitting at a desk, working on an assembly line or taking care of patients in a medical environment, ergonomics can impact your life. Ergonomics is about making the workplace fit you and your specific needs, rather than the other way around.

A proactive discipline, ergonomics helps to reduce discomfort in the individual. This can have a ripple effect, increasing job satisfaction, productivity and well-being, thereby helping to reduce costs to the organization in the long run.

So, next time you hear someone name-check “ergonomics,” you’ll know exactly what they mean (or don’t). 

[ergodepot]

Peddle while you work

  Over the past few years there have been a number of interesting new ideas for combating excessive sitting at work. One of the more innovative ideas to emerge is taking the concept of an exercise bike and marrying it up with a height adjustable desk.

The result is the standing desk bike. And it's awesome.

  So, what is this idea all about?

Keeping active while you work

Lifespan, well known for its office treadmill products has now designed an exercise bike specifically for use with a sit stand desk.

The main difference between this bike and the sort of models you find in gyms and health clubs is it doesn't have handlebars as they would get in the way. And of course you have your desktop to support you.

Once positioned on the bike at a height adjustable desk your body is placed in a far healthier open position than the scrunched up angle associated with sitting in an office chair. It’s stable in use thanks to the self-balancing adjustable strap pedals.

And while the idea is to pedal to keep fit, you simply stop for a rest when you're ready.  

How does it work in practice?

The bike is both portable and sturdy. To move it into position it has a pair of rollers at the rear and tilting it upwards engages them for easy movement. Once lowered the front feet keep it solidly in place. 

From there it has a huge range of adjustment positions allowing the seat to be set anywhere between 5 feet and 6 feet 8 inches to suit individual users. It makes the perfect partner for an adjustable height desk and a model such as our AD129 would work best due to its height adjustability range.

There's no need to worry about finding it hard going as it has some 16 resistance levels making it easy to match it up with your level of fitness. It will comfortably support users up to a weight of 400 lbs.

It even lets you know how you’re progressing.

Using the desktop console

The desk cycle comes with an electronic console which gives users a wealth of information. It lets you know what resistance level you are working at, so as you progress you can alter it to suit your needs. It keeps a record of the time you've used it for as well as the number of calories you've burned. Lastly, it even shows how far you've travelled which is very motivational. 

Finding more information about the desk bike

Here's where you can find information about the LifeSpan desk cycle and the AD129 desk we recommend to use with it.

[ergodepot]

Portland City Declares War On Chairs

Portland’s mayor wants city residents to stand up more. Charlie Hales proclaimed July 17 Stand Up for Workplace Wellness Day.

Dr. Claire Wheeler is a professor of community health at Portland State University. At a hearing to declare war on chairs, she said too much sitting increases the risk of diabetes, obesity and heart disease.

For years, she says, people have taken the advice of their doctors and exercised 45 minutes a day. But then they’ve gone back to lie on a couch, sit at a desk or drive.

“Those people think that they’re physically active,” she said. “But intact the rates of heart disease and other illnesses are pretty much the same for them as well,” she explained.

“So we’ve identified a new risk factor, it seems to be even more significant than smoking. An hour of sitting in a chair, can take more time off your life than smoking a single cigarette,” she said.

City Commissioner Steve Novick called for his colleagues to set an example by taking some meetings standing up.

It's great to be part of such a progressive city and community.

Mayor Hales, we stand with you!

[ergodepot]

Yoga for Standing Desk Users

Lifehacker just posted this link to some yoga exercises people can do at their sit-stand desks. Check out these suggestions: 

Start with a combination of Mountain Pose (tadasana) followed by Standing Half Moon (ardha chandrasana), a side bending pose.

Move to Tree (vrksasana) on each side and then into Mountain Pose with arms over head (urdhva hastasana). 

  Interlace fingers behind back and fold forward (Yoga mudra),  and finish with a Standing Forward Fold with an easy twist: One hand on the earth (under the face) other hand extended to sky. End in Mountain Pose.

Yoga Journal has a guideto standing poses for those of you who aren't familiar with these positions.

[ergodepot]

Be a Desk Jock

Our height adjustable desks got a nod in the August 2013 issue of Outside Magazine.

Even if you exercise regularly, sitting at your desk all day will kill you. Literally. One study by the American Cancer Society found that men who sit for six or more hours a day are 20 percent more likely to die from a given cause than men who sit for less than three hours.

Check out the full page (and everything it takes to be a desk jock) here, then grab a height adjustable desk at ErgoDepot.com.