Standing fit and tall is one super way to look and feel young, confident and in charge.
Then, why do you see loads of people hunched over, twisted or otherwise in bad postural alignment?
Our lives are lived slouching forward. Admit it, you slouch. We all do. Hunched over the wheel of a car for hours on the highway, your keyboard at the office or Smartphone, our lives are lived in a constant "C" shape, curving a way our spine isn't happy with.
Here are a few ways to alleviate the slump:
Counteract this poor posture with a yoga Cobra pose, that encourages your body to stretch the back muscles in a way we hardly do in our normal day.
Help your body re-align with a yoga Mountain pose, helping your body reconnect with a proper standing stance, feet flat, knees stacked over heels, hips stacked over knees, shoulders stacked over hips, and ears stacked over shoulders. Feel weird? It does! But continuing to cue your body to stand in alignment will help avoid poor posture.
Arch your body over a physio ball or bench (backwards!). We do the forward flex so much, taking care to stretch the opposite way is critical in spinal balance. If the ball or bench is too much to start, roll up a towel, place it in between your shoulder blades when comfortably lying on the floor on your back, and breathe.
Of course, you really can't have a great back without a strong "front". The core muscles and their condition (usually, poor) contributes to much of the back pain and slouch Americans experience.
Doing some old fashion crunches, or simple sit to stands with a chair will begin to strengthen your core and relieve back discomfort, helping you stay upright for years to come.
Good posture is no joke and shouldn't be assumed. Working with a certified personal trainer is a good way to create a program that you can carry on for many years. Call 203-877-5270 today to schedule your postural session.