10 Quick Fixes For A Better Posture

Just how important is it to have a proper posture? Well according to a blog post by the Kansas Chiropractic Foundation, posture “ranks right up the top of the list” when talking about good health. The site also emphasized that posture is “as important as eating right, exercising, getting a good night’s sleep, and avoiding potentially harmful substances.”

“Without good posture, you can’t really be physically fit,” KCF further specified.

Does that sound surprising? Well, it seems our moms were right when they old us to “sit up straight” and “don’t slump in the chair.”

Livestrong.com also had an interesting take regarding this topic saying:

“Proper posture is important for a number of reasons, including that it places your body in an alignment where the stress on supporting ligaments, tendons and muscles is limited. Poor posture can lead to discomfort and injury.”

1. Use a mirror to check your posture.

First off, you can use the mirror to check your posture. Generally, your palms should face your thighs while your thumbs should be pointing ahead. If not, you probably have a posture problem. Pulling your head back and moving your shoulders down to back will be a good exercise for you.

2. Work on strengthening your core.

It is impossible to have a good posture if you do not strengthen your core. There are, of course, many different core exercises and you may check out the other suggestions below should you need additional ideas.

3. Start doing Yoga.

If you can enroll for a Yoga class, then that would be great. Otherwise, you can try the 6-minute technique shared on this helpful video called “Yoga At Your Desk.”

4. Squats are awesome.

To do squats correctly, you should keep your knees, hips, and toes pointed forward. Also, your buttocks should stay above the level of your knee while your back remains neutral, not arched. Your shoulders, hips, and knees should be even plus your abdominal muscles should be pulled in.

5. Planking helps.

6. Do pilate exercises.

Doing a quick search on the web will lead you to lots good pilate exercises out there. Here’s one you’ll probably find useful:

7. Inspect your vertical line.

With vertical line, we mean that your ears, hips, and shoulders should be aligned.

8. Evaluate your attitude.

This may sound unusual to some but yes, your attitude also affects your posture. Ever noticed how much you stand tall and proud when you are in a good mood and feeling confident? So yep, checking your attitude – and making necessary adjustments – can be a good thing.

9. Practice the balloon technique.

This one’s particularly old school. Just imagine you have a balloon attached to the top of your head and its pulling your head up. That will help you stand tall and maintain right posture.

10. Take a walk.

The biggest problem for most people these days is that they remain seated in front of the computer – sometimes even for long period s of time. Not surprisingly, that could lead to posture concerns. Take time to go outside and walk or maybe just move around your office. This will give you some well-deserved exercise and you’ll feel less-stressed in the long run.

H/T: Lifehack