What does your posture say about you? How is it affecting how others perceive you, your own emotions, and your health?
It is not just because I am a chiropractor that I am interested in posture. We have history, posture and I. I spent some time in my teenage years perfecting a sullen, insecure posture that became a habit. My wife suggested I include of picture of me at that time as part of this article. This was not done because (a) the 70s hairstyle would have been much too distracting, and (b) all the really horrible pictures of this era have been mercifully destroyed. However, to this day, my natural “go to” posture involves my head being forward and my shoulders being rounded.
The good news is that through Network care, my posture has changed! I now get compliments on my posture!!! As I teach workshops on posture, I have done a great deal of research on the subject.
You see, your posture really affects how others view you. It affects the first impression you make, and it affects how others view your confidence, your fitness level, even how responsible you are!
When you first look at the two girls in this picture, which one do you see as more competent and efficient, more likely to “get the job done”. We all make unconscious evaluations based on the posture of an individual.
If that isn’t enough to motivate you to work on your posture, your posture will affect your mood! This is an exercise I do at workshops with groups: Stand in your “worst” posture. Slump your shoulders, stick your head out forward, let your pelvis tuck under so your lower back is rounded. Now say out loud, “My life is wonderful and amazing. I thrive as I face challenges and enjoy the abundance that surrounds me.” Does that feel authentic? Do you experience the emotion of that statement as you read it out loud? Now try reading it again with your best posture. Lift your chest, open up your shoulders and stand tall as you read it. You will notice a difference in how you feel.
Your posture will affect other’s perceptions of you, and it will affect your mood. Your posture also has an incredible affect on your health and wellness, but we will talk about that another time. I really encourage you to work on your posture with Network Care. I’d also like to give you a practical exercise to try at home.
Place both your thumbs on either side of your chest on the lowest rib, directly below the front of your shoulder. Place your baby fingers so they are resting on the bone that sticks out at the top and front of your pelvis. You should feel a comfortable space between the thumb and baby finger. Now breathe in and feel that space get wider. When you breathe out, maintain that distance between your thumb and baby finger. Repeat this a few times, letting the distance get wider each time you breath in, and not letting it get any narrower as you breathe out. Feel your chest lifting up and out as you enjoy greater space in your abdominal area. Feel how your lower back muscles are more engaged. Repeat this throughout the day to remind yourself to maintain good posture.
We have a new series of exercises that you can do at home to improve your posture. We are NEVER too old to work on our posture!!! Next time you are in the office, pick up a flyer that describes how to do the Founder exercise.
Take care of your posture! If your car wheels are out of alignment, you can drive your car like that for some time, but it is going to wear out a lot faster. If your body is out of alignment, you can live with it for some time, but it will wear down faster. And if your body wears out, where are you going to live?