Picture this—you go the showroom to buy yourself a brand new car you had always dreamed of. But first, you decide to make some queries before actually making the purchase from two showrooms that sit adjacent to each other. You go into the first; the salesman comes into the frame. A neatly dressed person with good interactive skills he is, but somehow seems out of focus: slightly bent and with a tired look, he presents his case for the model. It’s all what you wanted, but still you’re not convinced. You move to the next showroom, and the salesman enters like a superhero on a mission to save the world (here, make a sale). Standing upright, eyes meeting yours, and a sturdy handshake; he’s a picture of perfection. You decide to buy your dream car from the second showroom as soon as he finishes with the features and the offer. Wonder what went wrong with the car in the first showroom? It was the salesman that made all the difference. While the former was slouchy and lacked conviction, the latter was all straight and bulging out with conviction. Point being, the posture with which you dress up says a lot about you. And if it’s an incorrect one, it’ll add further to your list of troubles with pains and aches. Personally, but more so professionally, if you want to make yourself heard, it’s very important that your body posture doesn’t present a dented or dejected you but a confident and alert you. Continue reading to know about how to improve your posture.
Improving Posture
Where the Fault Lies
First of all, you need to know the signs of an incorrect body posture before you can start working on improving it. A back pain that hurts more on working days and not so much on weekend days, pain that moves from neck down to the upper back, sudden back pain experienced after changing the chair or a new job, or pain that goes away after standing up or changing positions while sitting are all signs of a bad body posture and can easily get worse if not looked after.
Break Free From the Routine
Sitting constantly in one position will not only tire you out but will worsen the pain as you begin to slouch, slump, and do all kind of stuff; adding extra pressure to the muscles. Therefore, it is important that you do not sit in one position for too long but keep changing it constantly. Getting up and taking a walk or doing a stretch for a minute or two is a good way to break the sitting routine. And even while walking; keep the head up with shoulders properly aligned with the body.
Ideal Sitting & Standing Posture
The way you sit and stand also determines how much of a trouble you’re going to get in, in the near future. The best way to stand is by maintaining the alignment of the body by distributing the weight evenly to the front, back, and sides of the feet. And the best way to sit is straight, with head, back, and hips aligned in one vertical line. Avoid slouching or leaning forward. But even if you sit this way, don’t forget to repeat the above step every 1 hour, as sitting in any position for a long time can tire out the muscles.
Supportive Prop Usage
Using supportive props while sitting, driving, and sleeping will not only improve your overall posture but will prevent problems of pain arising from it. Ergonomic office chairs with an adjustable back support is a good option to sit comfortably down at work. Using footrests and pillows while sitting or driving can minimize the troubles. Positioning computer screens to your natural eye rest position, using purses, bags, and handbags specifically designed to minimize the strain can help attain a good posture.
Recreational Activities
Exercising and other recreational activities like walking, swimming, cycling, and playing sports are a healthy way to build up a good posture, while keeping all the pains at bay. All these activities are meant to strengthen your back muscles, allowing them to maintain a proper posture for longer periods, which, in turn, will promote a toned and injury-free body structure. Wear shoes that are designed to promote a good posture. Avoid wearing high heeled shoes on a regular basis as they can alter the alignment of the whole body.
Movement of the Body
Unless there’s a fractured joint or something, the muscles of our body are designed for movement; therefore, maintaining a good posture shouldn’t be at the cost of restricting the movement of muscles for longer periods of time that are naturally meant to move. Doing so will make them stiff and will further increase the chances of pain. Any activity you do during the day: walking, lifting heavy material, holding a telephone etc requires attention as to how you hold your posture at that time.
Doing all these is one thing, and being aware of when your body posture is not as it should be, is another thing. It is only when you are proactive as to how your body behaves will you be able to curb the natural instinct to get into shape through proper conditioning and making a habit of it. Go on and get your posture right!
