“Sit straight. Don’t slouch,” is a standard line that most children have grown up hearing. It is not just about good manners. It actually keeps several health issues away. Maintaining a good body posture can yield some real benefits. Making an effort to improve your posture can eliminate some health issues and help you to age better.
What is good posture?
Good posture is the best way to hold your body when you are in a standing or sitting position. It gives you good muscle flexibility and your joints are able to function properly. It builds an equal balance of muscles on both sides of the spine which distributes the body weight. Once you are aware of the right posture, making a conscious effort to maintain it can go a long way to sustaining good posture on a regular basis.
Some of the clear benefits of improved posture are listed below -
- Better breathing
- Improved self-confidence
- Relief from back pain
- Improved mood
- Better Digestion
- Look taller and slimmer
- Reduces headaches
- Helps you age better
- Boosted energy
- Improved concentration
- Less tension in your shoulders and neck
- Decreased risk of abnormal wearing of joints
Better Breathing - When you sit straight you let your lungs expand
Did you know that poor posture actually impacts your ability to breathe deeply and fill your lungs to capacity? When you slouch, the lung muscles get compresses and decrease your ability to take in oxygen. When you sit or stand straight, your oxygen taking capacity can increase by 25-30%.
Improved Self-Confidence - Stand erect, walk with pride
When you stand erect, you walk with poise and self-confidence. It builds your self-esteem. When you slouch, it reflects a lack of confidence. When you are in a meeting or making a presentation or attending a job interview, you should make sure that your shoulders are relaxed and your spine is straight. You should start paying attention to your posture when you enter a room, sit down to eat or work at your desk.
Say Goodbye to Back Pain
Your body is created to stand in a neutral position in which your head, pelvis and torso are aligned, When you keep your head forward or tilt your hips or bend your spine, you put more stress on your muscles than they can endure. When you sit and stand with the right posture your muscles feel distressed and the back feels better. You can do bridges to strengthen your gluteal and abdominal muscles that will help to distress your lower back.
Keeps you in a good mood
Posture is an indicator of your mood. When your shoulders are hunched and you are sitting slouched with your head down, you are in a defeated mournful mood. When you are relaxed and happy, you tend to sit upright with your shoulders pulled back and a lifted smiling face. A simple change in posture can actually bring in a feeling of optimism and raised self-esteem.
Better Posture leads to Better Digestion
When you eat you should maintain the right posture to facilitate digestion. Eating when you are lying down or slouching inhibits the normal activity of your digestive system which causes constipation and other digestive issues. Always maintain the right posture while eating so that the food can move down the alimentary canal easily.
Look taller and slimmer with the right posture
When a tall person slouches, it removes several inches from his height while a short person who holds an erect posture appears taller. Similarly, poor posture can make you look fatter especially around the waist while a good posture will make you look slimmer. If you want to look smart and youthful when you enter a room, you should focus on your posture.
Reduces headaches
Poor posture can strain the neck muscles that become weak and stretched out. Dropping your head and letting your shoulders droop causes tension that can contribute to headaches. Those with good posture suffer from fewer headaches. Stretching your neck muscles with a head retraction exercise can help to improve posture and reduce headaches.
Helps you age better
Good posture helps you to age better and retain mobility as you grow older. Poor posture causes stress on connective tissues around your joints that can make you feel stiff as you age. Good posture will help in ease of movement in old age and help you look younger.
Boosted energy - You feel invigorated
Good posture leads to the efficient use of muscles. When you slouch, you actually tire your muscles because that is not a natural position.
Improved concentration
Good posture leads to good oxygen flow which improves focus levels. They help you to keep your brain sharp and think better.
Less tension in your shoulders and neck
When you put your head forward you put unnecessary strain on your upper back, shoulder, and neck areas. A proper posture helps to prevent this strain on your joints and ligaments. Doing neck stretch exercises can relieve pressure and fix the tension. You should check your posture several times during the day. You should ensure that your ears are above your shoulders and use your front neck muscles to hold your head up. This will help to relieve the pressure on your shoulders and neck.
Decreased risk of abnormal wearing of joints
When you adopt the wrong posture, it puts unnecessary pressure on your joints. If you slouch resting on one leg or side of your body, it usually leads to a hip strain. If your posture is balanced, it reduces the wear and tear of your joints. You can strengthen your core and lower back with a hip flexor stretch.
Why should you adopt a good posture at an early age?
Good habits should be inculcated at an early age. Kids need to learn to sit straight while eating and studying. Walking straight and holding the posture is a good habit. It will help students to improve their focus.
How can I improve my posture while standing?
When you stand up straight and tall, with your shoulders held back, it improves your personality along with your posture. Pull your stomach in and keep the weight on the balls of your feet and your head level. Your arms should fall naturally by your side. With some practice, you will be able to hold this posture for long periods of time.
What 3 things are needed for good sitting posture?
You should keep your feet flat on the floor or use a footrest.
You should leave a gap between the back of your knees and the chair.
You should position your knees at the same height or slightly lower than your hips.
In conclusion, we can safely say that a good posture will definitely improve the working of your muscles and joints improve your personality and resolve several health issues quite easily. It is not difficult to adopt a good body posture. It costs nothing but is capable of yielding great benefits. After all, anything which improves your health has to be a good practice that can be safely adopted. Say Yes to Good Posture. Say Yes to Good Health.
