Good posture and proper alignment are absolutely crucial when it comes to maintaining good health. You may not think this is true, but proper posture is just as important as good nutrition, getting enough exercise and sleep and avoiding alcohol, drugs, and tobacco. The human body craves good alignment - and when you maintain good posture to support the natural curves of your spine, the health benefits are palpable..
Whether you realize it or not, if you have good posture it may be the difference between feeling good and healthy and being chronically in pain, tired and unhealthy. This is why it’s crucial to practice good posture. Improving your posture gets your body back to its center of balance and paves the way for improvement in your health.
Proper posture is not just about standing up straight, but being aware and connected to every part of your body. Proper alignment supports our weight, reduces physical effort and strain, and produces fluid, graceful movement. If you don’t have a normal posture, you can’t access any of these benefits.
Our bones are meant to be stacked on top of one another with precision. If they are out of alignment, even if you have a good exercise routine, damage can occur every time you work out because your posture is preventing your musculoskeletal system from moving and working properly.
Proper posture does help in gaining good health but also helps in avoiding chiropractic disorders or structural problems. Bad posture is a reason for lots of day to day structure problems which later require chiropractic adjustments, and this makes it crucial to improve your posture to avoid these problems.
In the world that we live in, many people have suffered from having bad posture. Bad posture causes you to slump, can give you back pain and will make you look older (in a bad way). People with good posture open up their solar plexus and are able to breathe more air into their body, giving them more energy. If you improve your posture, you too can benefit from additional energy in the same way.
Bad posture, such as slouching, affects the way we feel and can make us more prone to bone, joint, and tissue injuries due to misusing our bones and muscles. Some occupations can put us at risk of structural disorders, especially in today’s modern setting. Many of us work at a desk with computers, as with cashiers, assembly workers or nurses, back and neck pain and pinched nerves are common. The strain on the backbone or muscles and uneven stress on the joints can lead to debilitating and permanent damage.
The reason that many people put off improving their posture (or don't seem too bothered about it) is because it's something that seems difficult to do (otherwise why wouldn't everyone do it?). The truth is that improving your posture is actually something that can be done fairly easily - as long as you're dedicated to doing it.
One simple thing that you can do (especially if you work all day on a computer or have a mobile phone) is to set hourly (or frequent) reminders to yourself to sit/stand up straight. Giving yourself a break to stand up, adjust your position, and stretch tired or sore muscles can provide your musculoskeletal system with enough relief to prevent long-term issues from forming. Consistently taking these important health breaks with the aid of a timer or alarm will get you in the habit of reminding yourself until doing so becomes second nature.
In addition to this, it's important that you stretch and strengthen certain muscles in your body until 'good posture' becomes your body's natural position. Again, this isn't that difficult (providing you know which exercises to do). Before starting any exercises it is advisable that you go and see an expert (or your doctor) since you don't want to strengthen the wrong muscles which can sometimes result in making your posture worse.All too many individuals who were perhaps more eager than prepared have often shown up at their doctor or chiropractor in need of treatment because of improperly exercising!
There are psychological as well as health benefits to having the correct posture. A man who walks tall with their shoulders back, looking forward and their back straight gives off a much more positive image than a man who walks around with his shoulders slouched, looking at the floor. You will also feel more confident and good about yourself if you walk tall with purpose.
Good posture will help prevent a backache and muscular pain, taking the stress off the joints and ligaments that support your spine and lumbar region. Good posture will also prevent muscles becoming strained and overused. Your muscles are being used more efficiently when you have good posture; this will give you more energy and stop muscle fatigue.
Here are some examples of good posture:
When you sit on a chair, have both your feet flat on the floor and your back straight and against the back of the chair. Avoid sliding forward or leaning too much.
Keep your shoulders back and your knees straight while standing, you should also tuck your stomach in and keep your back nice and straight.
When you are sleeping make sure you place the pillow below your head and not your shoulders, make sure your mattress is firm enough to provide support to your spine.
Always lift heavy items with your back straight and your legs bent, keep heavy loads close to your body.
Lastly, it's important that your posture doesn't just refer to your back - it starts at your feet and goes all the way up to your head.
Now that you realize the importance of having good posture, practice it every day and it soon will become a habit that will serve you well.
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