Pay attention to your posture! Plus three helpful tips
I wonder if you can cast your mind back, way way back, to a time where there were no mobile phones, no Netflix and certainly no social media.
Were you more active, did you spend more time outdoors and a lot less time sitting or staring at some sort of screen for hours on end? Were your postures close to perfect and your spines better aligned and did you move with more ease? Perhaps age has something to do with this too!
Either way, maybe you have some aspirations for 2019 or new habits you’d like to commit to. Here is one that won’t require too much of you, that can be done anywhere and will bring about profound changes for your body and well-being. Ready? Here is comes…Pay attention to your posture!
THE PROBLEM WITH POOR POSTURE
Poor posture is often caused by everyday activities such as sitting, staring at computers and hand-held screens, carrying a bag over the same shoulder, driving, caring for small children and even sleeping in awkward positions.
As we repeat these activities, and for long periods, poor posture becomes second nature, causing and aggravating all sorts of bodily pains, as well as affecting the normal function of internal organs. Fortunately, the main factors affecting posture are completely within one's ability to control and are not difficult to change. So here are some essential tips to help improve your posture:
THREE TIPS TO HELP IMPROVE YOUR POSTURE
1. Stand on two feet:
The feet are the foundation of our posture. They are meant to be supple, strong and adaptable so they can carry us around safely and quickly across different terrains. Unfortunately, we tend to stand mostly on one foot instead of distributing the body weight evenly between both feet. This fact, combined with subtle twists in the pelvis, mean that our feet are hardly ever in a “neutral” position, which is crucial for optimal function. Get into the habit of following the guidelines below as many times during the day as possible.
- Feet parallel to each other - all 10 toes pointing directly forward
- Feet about hip width apart
- Even weight on both feet
2. Place your pelvis above your heels:
Life is tiring… and so when we stand up we tend to allow the pelvis to “drop forward” in front of the heels. Simply shift your pelvis back to the point that you feel yourself standing on the heels (or just in front of the heels) and you can easily wiggle your toes about. This will alleviate pressure from your lower back and will re-align your spine, shoulders and neck naturally and effortlessly.
3. Check that you're symmetrical:
Standing and walking with a twist through the body leads to joint and muscle imbalances and to exacerbated wear and tear in the joints. Imagine you have lights shining from your knees, hip bones, shoulders and eyes; and make sure all of these lights are shining directly forward as much as you can.
I hope these tips will help you carry yourself better through your daily lives!
And if you’re looking for more tips on alignment, posture and footwork, then read more about the Happy Body Pilates video club. You can become a member for only £9 a month or £99 a year and really elevate your Pilates skills and posture.