How to Improve Your Posture with 5 Small Changes
We all know the importance of good posture, but it’s hard to change, isn’t it? Sometimes, the body positions we make are unconscious. The first step to change, though, is awareness: notice how your posture affects your body. You’ll be amazed: if you suffer from back pain, or chronic soreness, you might just cure yourself with these 5 postural changes.
1. Avoid crunched in, slouched positions. Bending towards your computer, hunching over your phone. Be aware of your neck and shoulders. Position your device in front of your eyes, rather than lowering yourself towards the screen.
2. If your spine was a line, what shape is it making? You have a natural slight curve towards your hips; but aside from that, your spine should be long and straight. NEVER lift with a curved back. Stick your butt out and keep that spine in one straight line!
3. Open up your chest by pushing back your shoulders until you can feel your shoulder blades squeeze together. Repeat this movement consciously, until your muscles strengthen and becomes a more natural, comfortable position (instead of rolling your shoulders in). Drivers tend to crunch towards the wheel: practice keeping that chest open.
4. Short folks, celebrate: you’re about to get taller! Imagine your torso being pulled up by a string, as tall as possible, from the top of your head all the way to your hips. You are aligning countless muscles and vertebrae to their optimal position.
5. When you’re standing, do you tend to put your weight onto one hip? It can feel like a natural, relaxed position for some, but this one-sided stance is very hard on your hip joints, and can result in wear and tear (literally). Make an effort to balance your weight on both hips—or, if you do put all your weight on one hip, keep your muscles engaged rather than sagging. You can tell your muscles are engaged if your hips remain parallel to the ground. One hip shouldn’t be higher than the other.
Credits: pch.vector, up.klyak
