Posture | Posture Exercises | Straight Posture

Posture:
If You Think It's About Sitting and Standing Up Straight - Think Again!

Posture. There's a word we hear often when we are young and often come to despise. How many times were you told as a child to sit up straight, don’t slouch or to stand up tall? How many times as a parent have you said it to your children? We know a poor body shape may contribute to health problems and muscle strains but your idea of what good posture is may lead to unnecessary muscular effort. Whilst the intention may be good the instruction is misleading and could be the cause of many problems including lower back pain, a stiff neck and shoulders and persistent sports injuries.

When you were told to stand up straight what did you do? Did you do like the majority of people and tighten your lower back and push the chest forward? Yet, if you look at your spine in this position it is not straight – pulling the lower back in will shorten the spine! (see photo below -center).

The slump (left), attention (center) and poised (right) standing positions require very different muscular activity to maintain an upright position. The poised stance uses the least amount of effort.

I have placed a line down from the location of the atlanto-occipital joint (where you head sits on top of your spine). Notice where the line passes down the body – in C the weight of the head passes directly down the spine and through to floor requiring less muscle activity to maintain balance.

Check which one most closely represents your standing posture – ask your partner to get the right answer!

The 'attention' position shows the most common response when you ask someone to stand up straight. You might believe that if you are doing something wrong, such as slouching, you need to do something extra to correct it. However, have you ever thought that if you knew what good posture was, you would already be standing correctly? How do you suddenly know how to stand properly if you have not done it for years? In place of doing something to stand straight, how about learning to just stop slumping?

Click here to see video of correcting your sitting posture

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FREE POSTURE GUIDE

Check Your Own Posture
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Posture, Poise & Performance

In my role as a teacher of The Alexander Technique I see many people who suffer as a result of poor stature. I also see just as many who are suffering as a result of their attempts to correct it! Adding a little extra tension in order to stand properly will not improve your shape - it just adds to the strain on your muscles and joints. Rather than trying to stand and sit in a way you feel is correct, you can learn how to remove the unnecessary stress in your body and allow your postural reflexes to work as nature intended.

This skill is called poise and for many is a lost skill from our youth. When you have poise you use far less effort and your body will support itself with ease allowing you to move, breathe and function more freely. Poise is evident in top athletes and performers.

Think of Muhammad Ali or Fred Astaire in their prime and that gives you a great example of freedom in movement. I doubt if they used exercises to improve their posture!

I have designed a program to help you become poised again that doesn't require exercise. It contains procedures to help you prevent inappropriate muscle tension that can be the cause of poor posture and many aches and pains. If you would like to know more about this program (now also with video!) please click here.

free fitness program

FREE online course for your posture
Many adults unknowingly develop the habit of using excessive effort even for doing simple actions such as sitting and standing. The unnecessary stress placed upon your body will affect your posture. My FREE Body Awareness Course could help you to recognize these poor habits and allow you to move with minimal effort and allow your body to get back its poise. This course consists of 5 lessons to help you reduce the stresses and strains you unknowingly put upon your body. Everyone completing the course will receive a 50% discount off my most popular program!

To get your FREE course please click FREE posture program

More On Posture ....

Posture Exercises: Do They Really Help?

Good Posture: What Exactly Is It?

Computer Posture: The Dos and Dont's

Fitness And Good Posture: Can We Have Both?

Bad Posture: What Can You Do About It?

Poise v. Posture: Whats The Difference?

"Only by challenging conventional thinking can we begin to find real solutions."

Posture:If You Think It's About Sitting and Standing Up Straight - Think Again!

Posture, Poise & Performance

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Posture:
If You Think It's About Sitting and Standing Up Straight - Think Again!