I try to be active, but in all I do, I’m mindful of my back. I am careful with how I use it, but I’m always disappointed that so few classes and exercises target my back to stretch and strengthen it. Add to the fact that I have no core muscles (but oh so want them)! I was introduced to a new product that can help me with that. The Body Archer seems like exactly what I needed. It allows you to stretch your back comfortably while relaxing into the stretch.
When my Body Archer arrived, I was pleasantly surprised to discover that it looks more like a piece of furniture than exercise equipment, a plus in my book. After reading through the manual for the $399 Body Archer, I was ready to do some spine stretching. As I lay on it, I had to wiggle around a little to find the sweet spot for me, which is part of its design – the shape and height means that it can provide a good body arch for most heights (some stretches suggest that you be 5’5″ or taller, but the majority work for anyone). And once I found that sweet spot, I could relax into it.
The Stretches
The stretches are all contained within the manual for the Body Archer, making it easy to reference the seven different stretches suggested. Granted, many of these stretches could be done on an exercise ball, but they don’t have the same stability that the Body Archer does. Other stretches are ones I typically do standing, like a full body side stretch. Again, doing the stretch while seated on the Body Archer gave me more control as I used only the parts of my body that should be stretching rather than compensating with other body parts.
The Body Archer is also designed for core strengthening exercises and exercises for back strengthening. And here’s my nitpick. For $399, which is not a cheap item, the strengthening exercises should be in the manual, as well. Instead, you’re directed to the Body Archer website where you have to find the single text link at the bottom of the page that leads you to the strengthening exercises. Like the stretches, the exercises are separated into beginner, intermediate, and advanced options so you can start where you feel comfortable.
The beginner options are definitely ones that anyone can do, but the intermediate and advanced exercises get more challenging – and for me more fun. Again, most of these exercises are ones that I have done on exercise balls in the past or ones I could potentially do on an exercise ball, but the Body Archer has an additional stability factor that makes me more confident to try them and less likely to fall off and be unable to accomplish them because I don’t have sufficient balance and core strength to maintain the positions.
My final thoughts
I would hesitate to spend $399 for the Body Archer solely as a back and core strengthener, even as it does relieve some of my low back pain. With that being said, as a friend pointed out, this makes a great office chair. I tried it out, and it is perfect as a desk chair. I could totally see me replacing my current office chair with a Body Archer and using it to sit on daily. The Body Archer really forces you into excellent posture when you sit on it, and it gives you a core workout while sitting which is just an added benefit. I could then take advantage of the other stretches and exercises throughout the day as my breaks to keep me moving and loosen my back after sitting too long. That would easily be worth the cost to me.
Because it is so like a piece of furniture rather than exercise equipment, it has the added benefit of being customizable. You can choose the color wood for the base, either light or dark wood, as well as the color. The vinyl cushion comes in four different colors ranging from sage to buff to black, as well as the blue pictured. And best of all, shipping is included to the lower 48 states.
Enter to win
One reader is going to get the chance to win a body archer in the wood and fabric of their choice. Use the Rafflecopter form to enter this giveaway. New to Rafflecopter? Watch this 45-second video on how to enter!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Michelle is grateful to have an on hand solution to help stretch and strengthen her back and her core, two of her goals for the new year as she works towards being more fit. See what else she’s working on by reading her blog Honest & Truly! and following along with her on Twitter where she is also @HonestAndTruly.
Dark wood with the blue vinyl..
I like the blue.
I would choose the dark wood and black vinyl.
I’d choose dark wood/buff vinyl
I would choose the Light Wood/Sage Vinyl.
I like the dark wood/buff
i like the light wood buff vinyl
dark wood sage
I’m thinking probably the dark wood and black! This looks amazing and would be awesome to have! 🙂
I like the Sage
I would get the dark wood with the blue vinyl.
id choose dark wood, sage vinyl
dark wood and black is perfect
I would choose the dark wood and black vinyl.
Light wood/Blue.
If I was the lucky winner I would like to get the light wood buff body archer!
I would choose dark wood/sage.
dark wood, buff color
I would choose dark wood/black
I would choose the dark wood, black vinyl
Dark wood, with black
I like the dark wood w/black vinyl.
i like light wood/sage vinyl
dark wood with black
Dark wood blue vinyl
I’d choose the dark wood/black vinyl combo
I like the dark wood and the black vinyl.
I would choose the dark wood/ buff vinyl
Light wood with blue vinyl.
i like the dark wood and black
jagar0047 at yahoo dot com
dark wood with black
Dark Wood w/Black Vinyl
Blue on dark wood, looks awesome
I like the dark wood & sage chair.
This was hard but I think the dark wood with the black
blue with dark wood
Dark Wood, Black Vinyl
I like the dark wood and black vinyl
blue vinyl with the light wood base
I like the blue one the best.
dark wood, sage vinyl
Dark wood & sage vinyl
light wood with the blue vinyl
Dark wood in sage please.
I would get the dark wood/ sage combination.
I would choose Dark wood with Sage vinyl.
I love the light wood and sage vinyl combination!
Dark wood with the blue vinyl
Dark wood and black
What a wonderful prize… I would love to win the dark wood and black one
dark wood/sage vinyl
the light wood with the blue vinyl
Dark wood/ black vinyl
sage green one Light Wood/Black Viny. thank you
light wood buff vinyl
The sage green one 🙂
I think I would get the light wood and the sage cushion. Thank you!
dark wood and blue
the dark wood, sage vinyl
Dark Wood Sage Vinyl would be my choice
I would choose dark wood and black vinyl.
I like the dark wood with sage.
Dark wood/black vinyl
Sage/dark wood.
I would get the dark wood / black
Dark wood with blue!
I would like the black vinyl.
I love the dark wood and sage!
dark wood and sage
I would choose the Dark Wood / Black Vinyl.
I like dark wood and black
Light wood with the Buff Vinyl
I like the dark wood and sage colored one.
I like the LIght Wood with Sage Vinyl!
I like the light wood with buff vinyl.
i like the dark wood and sage the light wood with sage is pretty too
dark wood/ black
Dark wood/blue vinyl
Light wood/blue vinyl
I like the dark wood and the blue vinyl.
dark wood buff vinyl. thank you for the chance.
light wood/buff vinyl
Light wood, buff
Light wood and sage
Light wood with sage.
Dark wood with black vinyl- would love this!
Dark wood with black vinyl
vmkids3 at msn dot com
I’m going with the dark wood & sage colors.
I would choose the dark wood with sage.
I like the dark wood and blue. Sage would be my second choice.
Dark Wood And Black
I’d choose Light Wood/Sage Vinyl.
Dark wood with sage
dark wood, black vinyl
I’d choose the dark wood and sage
I would get it in black.
I would choose the black with dark wood =)
Dark wood and sage
I’d love the dark wood and sage.
I like the dark wood, blue vinyl
I like the dark wood blue vinyl
Great giveaway, like the dark wood & black one.
dark wood and buff
I would like dark wood and blue.
light wood, sage vinyl looks perfect!
I like the light wood with sage vinyl best of all.
dark wood and black
Dark wood/black
Dark Wood / Black Vinyl
Dark wood/sage vinyl
I would choose the dark wood/black vinyl. It’s gorgeous. 🙂 Thanks for the giveaway!
I would choose dark wood/blue vinyl.
I would LOVE the Dark Wood and Black Vinyl 🙂
I like the Light Wood with Sage Vinyl
dark wood and black
The light wood & black vinyl one would be nice.
dark wood buff vinyl
I would get light wood and black.
I’d pick light wood and blue vinyl
Light wood and Buff
Dark wood and blue
i like the Dark wood and black!
I would choose the Dark Wood/Black Vinyl one.
I like light wood with blue vinyl.
I like the dark wood, sage vinyl…thank you for the chance
I’d get the light wood and sage variety.
I would choose the dark wood with black vinyl.
The dark wood and sage looks like a good combination.
Dark wood with black. Thanks!
I’d choose Dark Wood/Black Vinyl.
Dark wood with sage vinyl.
I like the light wood/buff. This is pretty cool!
Dark wood with black vinyl. Thanks so much for the chance.
Dark wood, black please!
I would love light wood sage vinyl.
I like the dark wood/black vinyl
Dark wood and black vinyl
looks great
I’d enjoy the Dark wood/ black
I would pick Light Wood and Sage
i’d get blue
I would choose the dark wood with the buff vinyl.
I like the dark wood & black vinyl body archer.
I would choose the dark wood with the beige vinyl.
dark wood and black vinyl
I like light wood with blue vinyl
I would choose sage. I really need this I am glad to have heard about it. Vicki
I like the dark wood, sage vinyl, thank you:)
dark wood/black
Dark wood/sage vinyl.
Dark wood with sage vinyl
I would like the tan.
Dark Wood and sage
I like the dark wood with blue!
dark wood and blue vinyl
Dark Wood/Black Vinyl
Dark wood with black
I would get the dark wood with black!
I have wanted to try this, I like the Dark wood and black thanks for the chance
Dark wood/black.
Thanks for the chance.
mogrill12@gmail.com
I like the dark wood and blue vinyl.
I would get the dark wood with black vinyl.
i like the dark wood with black or sage
I would go for the light wood/ sage vinyl.
Dark wood and black
Dark wood/black
I would choose the dark wood finish with the sage vinyl.
dark wood with black
I would choose the light wood buff vinyl
Dark wood with black. Thanks!
Ross Olson
I’d choose the dark wood with black vinyl 🙂
I love the idea of an office chair that makes me maintain good posture! I would choose the dark wood with black vinyl one.
I would choose the dark wood/ buff vinyl
dark wood sage vinyl
Oops, I forgot– I like the dark wood with sage vinyl.
Never seen anything like it– looks nice though!
I would get the dark wood black vinyl
I’d choose the dark wood with black vinyl!
dark wood /black
For the Mrs., but I might have to try it!
Dark Wood / Black Vinyl
dark wood/black — actually quite lovely
Dark wood buff =)
Dark wood with the blue vinyl.
Black; Light Wood
I would like the dark wood with buff.
dark wood/black
I like the Light Wood in Blue.
I would pick the dark wood with black.
Dark Wood, Sage Vinyl would be my choice if I were to win!
I would take any of them, but probably like the black of buff best
Dark Wood/ Black
dark wood and black or light color? they are all great!
I like the light wood with the black vinyl.
My choice would be the dark wood & black.
I would choose the light wood and buff colour.
Dark wood and black vinyl
Dark wood black
i like the dark wood and sage
I like the black with dark wood.
Dark wood and black vinyl
I like the look of the blue vinyl with the light wood base.
Looks like a great product, thanks for letting me know about it! I would choose the dark wood and the buff vinyl. Thanks for the chance
Light Wood/Black Vinyl
Dark wood with Sage would be perfect
dark wood black
LIght wood in black
I’d choose dark wood/blue vinyl. Thanks.
partymix25(at)hotmail(dot)com
Dark wood and black
Dark wood with black.
Light wood and blue
If I won, I would choose the dark wood and sage vinyl.
Dark wood, Buff Vinyl…Thanks for the chance to win!
Light wood, buff vinyl
dark wood with black
Dark wood and black vinyl for me.
Dark wood/buff vinyl
the dark wood/black vinyl. This looks fantastic. I’m finding I’m needing to stretch my back more often and just started looking at what options are out there.
Dark wood, buff vinyl.
black vinyl – light wood
Dark wood/black
Dark wood and black! Interesting concept!
Dark wood with Sage…it is so pretty!!
Dark wood with sage vinyl.
Dark wood with the blue vinyl.
I would choose the light wood with the blue vinyl
I would get dark wood, buff vinyl.
dark wood, sage vinyl
dark wood/black