Yoga Posture - How to improve support Posture? - Different Sitting, standing postures
No matter what your weight, color, or level of fitness, you'll look better if you stand up straight. I probably sound like your mother, but it's true: good posture helps you look fit, strong, energetic, and healthy- all important facets of personal beauty. Compare that with the message you give out by slouching, which can make you look weak, ineffective, or mousy. Further more, posture affects your health. If it's good, you'll find yourself strong enough to meet a day's - and a life's - challenges without unnecessary fatigue or aches. If it's bad, you'll be more prone to tiredness, poor circulation, back problems, neck aches, and weak stomach muscles.
To determine if your posture is good, stand as you normally do but with your heels against a wall. Your calves, buttocks, shoulders, and the back of your head should touch the wall. If your posture is good you should be able to just barely slip your hand through the space between the small of your back and the wall.
Do you need help in developing good posture? Keep reading.
• When you are sitting, push your navel back towards your spine, and hold your torso upright. Yes, you should do this even (especially!) when you're spending those long hours at the computer.
• To put yourself in touch with your body, try some form of stretch- intensive exercise, such as yoga or pilates.
• When standing for long periods of time, check that your abdominals are pulled in and your hips are slightly tilted forwards. Your knees should be relaxed.
• If you find it painful to straighten your posture, a form of body work- such as rolfing or the feldenkrais method- can make standing up straight more comfortable.
• Exercise regularly, because inactivity is the most common contributing factor to poor posture.
• This quick back-strengthening exercise can be done several times a day and is a good way to stretch the back after an hour at the computer: squeeze your shoulder blades together and hold for 10 seconds. Repeat ten times.
• If you spend more than an hour a day at the computer, it's a important to find a chair that supports your lower back and allows you to put your feet flat on the floor. If your legs don't reach the ground, find some kind of foot rest (even a telephone book) to rest your feet on.
• If you have good posture you will exude confidence and self-assurance, as well as an air of natural elegance and grace.
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