Good posture–we all want it, but most of us don’t have it. Whether we are stuck at a desk all day, sitting on the couch, or driving a car, our modern world is no friend to proper posture.
The chairs we sit in encourage slumping. The screens we stare at encourage neck-craning. Even some of the activities we do–like biking–work against the natural alignment of our spines.
If you aren’t actively working to encourage good posture, your spine is probably slowly starting to curl and deform beneath the weight of modern living.
Your whole body works better when you allow your it to find its natural, lifted posture. While it can take a lot of work to regain good posture after years of bad habits, it is totally worth the effort. Here are some incredible ways practicing good posture can improve your life.
1. YOU’LL EXPERIENCE IMPROVED ENERGY LEVELS AND REDUCED STRESS.
A more upright posture is a great way to trick your brain into thinking you feel energized and productive, even if you don’t, according to recent studies.
As you know, the mind-body connection is a two lane highway. A slumped posture indicates to the brain that you feel tired or stressed, which can make you feel even more tired and stressed mentally.
Good posture does the opposite and actually makes you feel more alert, productive, and happy. Better posture has also been linked to a reduced risk of depression.
2. YOU’LL FEEL MORE POSITIVE.
Good posture actually offers tremendous psychological benefits. Sitting up straight not only makes you appear more attractive and confident to other people, and it makes you feel more confident in your own thoughts as well.
In fact, better posture allows you to more easily recall positive memories. Likewise, slumped posture encourages you to remember memories of feeling hopeless, powerless, or negative. Essentially, lifting your spine lifts your mind along with it.
3. YOUR BRAIN WILL BECOME FULLY OXYGENATED.
When your neck is craned and your chin is jutted forward–i.e. the way most of our heads look when we are fiddling with our smartphones–you are actually pinching the flow of vital blood to your brain.
The neck is the only pathway for major blood vessels to reach the brain. When you crunch it for long periods of time, blood flows less freely. Sitting up straight with relaxed neck and shoulder muscles allows the brain to get all the nourishing blood it needs.
Who knows, maybe you’ll become smarter?
4. YOU’LL EXPERIENCE IMPROVED DIGESTION.
When your intestines aren’t all mushed together in a slump, they work a lot better. When food passes through the digestive system smoothly, you not only feel more comfortable, but look more comfortable.
Research has shown that good posture is associated with reduced bloating and flatulence. That’s a serious win.
5. YOU MAY REDUCE YOUR HEADACHES.
If you experience headaches on a semi-regular basis, your posture may be to blame. For most of us staring at smartphones and screens all day, our necks have become very tight and weak.
When your neck or upper back muscles become excessively tight from poor posture, they can reduce blood flow to the head and increase the likelihood of developing nagging headaches.
6. YOU WILL STAVE OFF BACK PAIN.
Around 80 percent of Americans will experience chronic lower back pain at some point in their lives. Improving your posture can take a lot of strain off of your lower back and provide the support and structure your spinal column needs to stay healthy and pain-free.
SO HOW CAN YOU ACHIEVE GOOD POSTURE?
Step 1 is to release tight muscles that are holding your body out of its anatomically natural position. Get a massage or rolfing session, do some foam rolling and incorporate a regular stretching practice. Release the tight muscles preventing you from achieving a healthy, neutral spine.
Step 2, build your core and back muscles. Do some natural exercises that work your entire range of motion. Encourage strength-building between your shoulder blades to reduce hunched shoulders. Improve core stability to support spinal length. Open up the entire front of your body with some yoga.
Step 3, change your environment to eliminate poor postural habits. Get a new office chair that encourages you to sit up straighter. Encourage yourself to stand more and move any screens to eye level. Add accessories to the driver’s seat of your car to reduce the slumped C-curve car seats encourage. Don’t let the items around you define your posture. Let your posture define how you design your environment.
Improving your posture has the capacity to truly improve your life. Feel happier, feel stronger, and look better by allowing your body to do its natural thing.
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