Simple posture corrective exercises can help you feel younger, stronger, and more alert. Poor posture contributes to a sloppy self-image that can affect your attitude and affect your health. Other than muscle strains or chronic back pain, you may also experience problems related to the circulatory and nervous systems.
To keep poor posture from becoming debilitating, try these simple suggestions:
Take notice of how you sit, stand, and work. If you are sitting all day, sit up straight, look straight ahead at the computer, and get a supportive chair. Computer posture is very important. If your job requires you to stand, balance your weight between your feet and stand in a wider stance than normal. Stay alert to slouching or leaning. At work, be sure your keyboard and computer screen are positioned so your head doesn’t roll forward and your shoulders are not hunched. Standing or sitting, take a break every so often to refresh your body.
Engage in weight training or resistance training exercises: There are so many ways to get active these days that you can always find something that interests you. Whatever you choose, your exercise routine should include whole body strength training to develop muscles that will support proper posture.
Head Position: Your head is a heavy weight for you neck to be supporting all day. Prevent neck strain and forward head roll by keeping it aligned with your shoulders. Learn to check your posture regularly and adjust it when necessary.
Shoulders: Don’t let your shoulders roll forward. When your shoulders are hunched, your head follows it, and the excessive strain to your neck may leave you with a sore back and a headache. Sit at attention. Exercise your shoulders at regular breaks by doing shrugs, shoulder rolls, and arm rotations.
Stretching: Stretching will lengthen muscles and increase blood flow. Do it frequently throughout the day.
These simple postures corrective exercises will change the way you feel and look.