I sat on my gluteus maximus for nearly 7 hours on Monday (the “nearly” included my 20 minute walk at lunch time). My verdict is in…you STILL need to move while waiting to serve! So here’s my New York US District Court “Jury Assembly Room” Workout!
1 – Unplug! You are not allowed to bring cell phones to the courthouse, so take this amazing opportunity to unplug and breathe. Long, slow deep breaths help to calm your entire central nervous system and help you feel more grounded for daily living.
2 – Back Row Twist – Take an opportunity to see who is behind you by twisting to your right and holding the right side of your chair. Keep your pelvis on the chair and take 5 breaths. Repeat left. The rest may be curious about what you are up to.
3 – “Voir Dire” Stretch – Speak the truth. Hold the backs of your chair with each hand and gently lean forward (like the bow of a boat). You’ll feel the stretch across the front of the chest and shoulder/arms. How can you not tell the truth after this stretch?!
4 – “Peremptory” Piriformis Stretch – This one is a bit more casual. Cross your right foot over your left thigh. Slowly lean your body forward until you feel the stretch in your right buttocks/hip. Breathe. Repeat casually on the left. No one will notice.
5 – “For Cause” Torso Circles – While STILL seated, circle your ribcage clockwise three times and counterclockwise three times. This helps significantly in keeping internal organs happy until lunchtime.
My apologies to lawyers for any misrepresentation of the legal terms. My very best to each of you that are called to serve. I was once again reminded of how incredibly grateful I am to live in a country where women have the right to vote and be part of a magnificent legal system.
