Bad Posture - Bad Mood?!

"Poor posture can also affect your moods, your intestines and your clothing! Slouching is synonymous with laziness, tiredness and depression and sitting up straight actually can change your mood; your intestinal tract can become sluggish and blocked if you are sitting in poor posture. A client, whose goal was to improve her posture, told me that in this past year she has gained 3/4 inches in height because her posture had improved. Her clothes fit better because they don't bunch in unsightly areas and her shoulders fit better into her jackets." more...

There are some good points well made in this article. Rememnber that there is much more to posture than 'the core' and often gentle exercises with little or no added resistance are more effective than 'resistance training'.

Does Core Strength Mean Better Posture?

#3 in the Posture Myths series:

While a strong core can certainly benefit posture, it’s not a given that it will.

Firstly, if we concentrate on the core we may be ignoring other vital pieces of the equation. Remember, the body works as a unit - the foot bone is connected to the ankle bone, the ankle bone is...

To simply work on the core, while you may strengthen it, in addition you may unintentionally make our postural compensations and dysfunctions (misalignments) stronger, potentially compounding any existing problems.

So what is the answer?

‘Straighten…then strengthen!’

You want to consider the position of your feet, knees, hips and shoulders as well as the alignment of the spine and head. By addressing all these elements and using the muscles to put them back in their design position, you’ll achieve a balanced and optimally healthy posture.
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7 Controversial Myths About Posture

There is a lot of talk about posture from well meaning 'experts' and magazines are full of 'posture tips'. Below are a few of the common myths that you are being told about posture:

1. Contracting your abdominal muscles (your transverse abdominals) supports your spine and allows you to stand up taller and with less pain.
2. You should check your posture regularly in the mirror and correct it accordingly.
3. A strong 'core' ensures a good posture.
4. You should maintain a straight spine (sitting or standing)
5. Visualising a better posture will help you to maintain one
6. 'Posture' refers only to the alignment of the spine
7. A brace or corset is an effective way to improve your posture

We'll look at these in a little more detail over the next post or two, to understand them within the bigger picture.