Have you ever looked at a candid picture of your unaware self or caught an
unexpected glimpse in the mirror and been shocked, even on a good day, to see …
the Hunchback of Notre Dame?
“Stand up straight, honey!”
Your parents were right. Here’s what to do about it!
Have you ever looked at a candid picture of your unaware self or caught an
unexpected glimpse in the mirror and been shocked, even on a good day, to see …
the Hunchback of Notre Dame?
When was it that posture fell out of favor? Back in the day (whenever that was),
you’d see people on sitcoms carrying books on their heads to improve their
posture. They had the right idea!
Good posture can make you look better (it’s like an instant lean-ifier), and even
more importantly, feel better (stronger, more confident, and with fewer aches and
pains).
So here’s what to do about it:
-
Use your imagination. Don’t try balancing your Kindle on your head. Instead, envision a cord passing through your body, ceiling to floor. That cord is pulling you up, making you taller. You’ll find yourself instantly adjusting.
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Hit the floor. Or the reformer. Pilates has incredible postural benefits. If you haven’t tried it, don’t be intimidated. Dip your toe into a beginner class and
experience some serious core strengthening (not to mention those longer, leaner
muscles over time). -
Cat-cow and bird-dog. Yoga classes are another great way to improve posture. They work by strengthening the muscles that support the spine.
-
Get up, stand up. Sitting all day can be a major cause of posture (and pain) problems. If your office has standing desks, use them. Make a practice of walking while talking on the phone. For one-on-one meetings or outings with a friend, schedule a walk rather than a sit-down.
-
Put the phone on hold. Maybe you’ve heard that hunching over your technology is one of the worst posture culprits. Try to train yourself to hold your phone up, rather than hunching to meet it in your hand.
- Get it looked at. There’s a right way and a wrong way to stand. Yes, stand. If you go to a fitness studio that has a focus on the core, you should be able to ask an instructor to look at your posture while you’re standing. You might be surprised at the assessment, and you should come away with a roadmap of next steps. Stay tuned for our Just Move Alignment classes coming in the fall!
