Thursday, April 18, 2013

A to Z Challenge: P is for Posture

A to Z Challenge:  P is for Posture


Improve your Posture


Posture says a lot about us.  It tells those we are with if we care to listen or not, if we put others first or ourselves, if we respect or disrespect, if we are confident or insecure, if we are lazy or disciplined, and so much more.  Posture not only points to what may be inside of us, it AFFECTS us and what’s inside.  

If we sit or walk upright and erect, shoulders back, we tend to be more alert, more confident, more cheerful.  Attitude affects posture and posture affects attitude.  You can lift yourself up by consciously working on improving your posture.

My friend recently described a meeting she had with a truculent subordinate.  Her fellow employee sat slumped across from her, one arm sprawled across the back of the chair, and his eye poised to roll with disapproval at the questions and suggestions of his supervisor.   She knew that he didn’t like that he was working for her.  He thought he should have a different position in the organization, but restructuring had placed him here, and he was going to be sure she knew he didn’t like it.  His attitude came through in his posture, and it wasn’t helpful to himself or his employer.

Posture is instrumental in our personal interactions harming or helping our relationships and our personal well-being.  However, the physiological effects not only have social and emotional ramifications, bad posture can lead to back pain, digestive trouble, and breathing problems among other issues.  Put positively, strengthen your back, improve your digestion, breath more fully  and live a better life simply by maintaining good posture.  

So what can you do to improve your posture?

1.  First know what good posture is.  Head erect, chin parallel to floor, shoulders back, chest out, stomach in, hips even, knees forward.

2.   Stretch and strengthen your back and your pectoral muscles.                  
           A.  The doorway stretch is great for stretching your 
                 pectoral muscles.  Place your forearm on the doorway
                 and push as you do a lunge with the same leg; hold for
                 30 to 90 seconds.  Rest.  Reach higher on the door-post
                 and lunge again.  Rest.  Reach lower on the 
                door-post and lunge again.  Repeat on the other side.  

            B.  One way to stretch your back is to tuck your buttocks
                  under your hips and reach forward with your arms
                  forming a ‘C’.  Hold for 30 seconds.  Reach arms up
                  Slowly and outstretch to side, pulling buttocks to the
                  back with your arms.  Repeat at least 3 times.  

3.  Pay attention.  Notice when you are standing, sitting, or walking if your posture is slumping and change it.  Ask others to keep you accountable until it becomes natural to maintain good posture.

4.  If you are working at a desk or at a computer, get up every half and hour and stretch.  

5.  Meditation enhances posture.

6.  Train your children early.  The importance of posture to our health, physical, emotional, psychosocial, and intellectual has been deemphasized.  Returning it to its rightful place in child training will benefit everyone.

Now if we can have such a positive effect on ourselves with a simple adjustment, why not give the proper attention to our posture?  


12 comments:

  1. Thanks for this and the excercises as I have posture problem causing severe neck pain.It is caused by a back operation many years ago.
    I will certainly try what you have written.
    Yvonne.

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    1. Oh Yvonne. I know what it is to suffer with neck and back pain. I hope you are able to find some relief. God bless, Maria

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  2. I love this post Maria. My back is as straight as a pin! My problem is my neck which tilts forward and tends to give me some problems. Sitting on the computer probably doesn't help much I bet! I find stretching to be a tremendous help first in bed in the morning then throughout the day.

    My son is a supervisor who works in an institutional setting with male inmates. I cannot tell you how much the fact that he stands tall (has good posture) has on the the level of respect he garners from the men. When you stand with confidence, carry yourself respectfully people even those who have been removed from society for horrible crimes can and will respond respectfully.

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    1. Hi Jen. Yes I bet standing tall is important in your son's job. And i know that I have to stretch frequently due to neck and back issues both. I have a Cervical Neck Traction contraption that helps me lots. I have had several people buy one after seeing mine and they all love it. You can get it on the cheap at amazon from a number of suppliers. Thanks for being here. God bless, Maria

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  3. You make some excellent points here. Body language speaks louder than words most of the time! Thanks for coming by Life is Good. Hope you continue to have a good recovery from your surgery.
    Tina @ Life is Good
    Co-host, April 2013 A-Z Challenge Blog
    @TinaLifeisGood, #atozchallenge

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    1. Thank you Tina. I am recovering well, though it will be awhile before I can play racquetball again. Thanks for returning the visit. God bless, Maria

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  4. Great P post! As a voice teacher I'm talking about posture all the time.

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    1. Hi Joy. Yes, posture is important in being able to breath deeply and bellow it out too. Appreciate you coming by. God bless, Maria

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  5. Wonderful post. I don't always think about what message I'm conveying with my posture.

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    1. Hi J. L. I don't always think about it all the time either, but i sure can see it in others. We do speak through our bodies, don't we? Thanks for coming by. God bless, Maria

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  6. A healthy post, Maria! I'm reminded of relatives who tried to correct my posture over the years. I think I'll go do some stretches now~~:)

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    1. Hahaha. I hear you Sharon. I am always trying to stretch especially sitting at this computer or my back and neck talk to me in ways I don't want to hear later. God bless, Maria

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