We’ve all heard it at some point or another in our lives… from a parent or perhaps a teacher… “Sit up straight!” It may have seemed like a nuisance at that time, but that could be some of the best advise we were given as children. This lesson becomes especially poignant because of the sedentary lifestyle many of us tend to evolve into as adults.
Having good posture has many health benefits:
- You improve and maintain good core and spinal strength
- You allow your body to work at maximum efficiency and minimum effort
- You improve your self-esteem because you feel better and look better (Not to mention taller; I’m 5’ tall and every little bit counts!)
- You have a more empowering presence
So how did we get to this place where so many of us have such poor posture? I believe there are 3 key reasons than many of us are no longer able to sit up straight or even stand up straight for an extended period of time:
- Lack of awareness of when we are engaging in poor posture
- Lack of understanding of what proper spinal alignment is
- Weakness in our core region.
Awareness… Awareness… Awareness… Everything begins with having awareness. Once we gain the awareness of when we are engaging in poor posture, we then need to have an understanding of how it should be corrected. And after learning how to bring our bodies into a good posture, we then also need to be able to maintain it.
This is where a daily yoga practice can be extremely helpful. Of course, we are constantly practicing awareness in yoga… we are always paying attention to the sensations and emotions our mind/body experiences. Thus as our awareness is honed, our ability to recognize poor posture is improved.
Secondly, fundamental to all yoga is knowledge of proper spinal alignment in each pose, stance and movement. For example, learning and practicing how to align the spine in Mountain pose helps us to stand up straight and steady…. In Easy Pose or Hero Pose, we learn how to sit up tall with no strain on the back… In Standing Forward bend, we learn how to bend forward in the most efficient manner so as to minimize effort and strain.
And finally, our continued practice helps us to retrain and rebuild parts of the musculoskeletal system that allow us to maintain and “perform” good posture. Gradually, we find ourselves standing up taller and stronger for longer periods of time… we are able to sit longer and with less strain because of our better posture (although we should always take breaks during extensive sitting!)… and we experience more graceful, efficient movements that take less effort because we’re working “with our bodies” rather than fighting against them.
I know that it can sometimes seem overwhelming to think about all the things we could do to improve our health. I’d like to suggest that by simply focusing on good posture, we can take a BIG first step toward better mind/body health. It’s never too late to sit up straight!
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To begin learning more about how to improve your posture through yoga, visit www.anyonecandoyoga.com… download chapters of my complimentary E-Book on the Home page, check out my 3-Part “Yoga Essentials” DVD set from the Shop or contact me to learn about my yoga coaching and wellness programs.