Improve your Posture & Enhance Your Life

How many times have you heard "Sit up Straight," or "Stand with your head held high"? Still think they want you to lengthen your spine just so you can look taller? There is much more to posture than just looking good. Good posture enhances physical wellness by strengthening and relaxing the body, encourages deep breathing which promotes better emotional wellness, and attracts others toward you, increasing social wellness. We hunch forward so often in life, hiding our heart from the world. Learning good posture techniques is a subtle and effective way to redefine your presence in the world. So if you are looking for less back pain, more confidence, and for people around you to take notice, start with posture.

Good posture involves conditioning your body to stand, walk, sit, and lie in positions in which the least strain is placed on supporting muscles and ligaments. Correct posture is an easy but important way to keep the many intricate structures in the back and spine healthy. Good posture is critical to reducing the incidence and severity of back and neck pain. In this article you will learn to identify good posture and bad posture. You will also learn the many benefits of good posture.

Benefits Of Good Posture

If you choose to improve your posture, you will reap many benefits. Proper posture contributes to a good appearance. It prevents backache, muscular pain, strain, and overuse problems. Correct posture keeps the bones and joints in correct alignment so that muscles are being used properly. It lessens the stress on the ligaments holding the joints of the spine together. Good posture helps decrease the abnormal wearing away of joint surfaces that could cause arthritis. It also prevents the spine from becoming fixed in abnormal positions. If you maintain a healthy posture, your muscles will be used more efficiently, thereby reducing fatigue.

Identifying Bad Posture

Here are some good examples of bad posture:

Slouching with the shoulders hunched forward
Standing in a way that exaggerates the inward curve in the lower back (swayback)
Cradling a phone receiver between the neck and shoulder
Keeping the head held too high or looking down too much
Slumping forward while sitting in a chair.

What Contributes To Bad Posture?

Many factors can contribute to bad posture. These include obesity, pregnancy, high-heeled shoes, tight-fitting clothes, weak muscles, tight muscles, inflexibility, poor sitting and standing habits, and a poor work environment. Carrying something heavy on one side of the body can also contribute to bad posture. The same can be said of sleeping on a mattress that doesn't provide proper back support, or sleeping in a position that compromises posture.

How To Improve Posture

You can improve your posture through the application of ergonomics and sound body mechanics. Ergonomics involves changing your environment to support and encourage good posture. Adding a lumbar support to your chair is a good example. You could also modify a tool, work station, counter height, or task. Good body mechanics is simply good posture while moving - walking, running, lifting, carrying, et cetera.

To achieve a good standing posture, use the following nine steps:
Hold your head up straight with your chin in.
Ensure that your earlobes are in line with the middle of your shoulders.
Keep your shoulders back.
Push your chest out.
Keep your knees straight.
Stretch the top of your head toward the ceiling.
Tuck your stomach in, without tilti