Health and Good Posture

Good posture is a good thing for good health. Remember being told by your teacher or your parents - "Sit up straight!" – That calls up old memories of slouching in a chair when you were a kid. I know it does for me. I was thinking about that just the other day, after I had spent what felt like hours on the computer.

I decided to take a break, because my muscles felt tense and my neck was stiff. That's when I realised that I had been sitting all hunched in, with my head jutting forward. And I heard that voice from my childhood saying, "sit up straight!"

It's just too bad that, once we are adults, we usually don't have someone reminding us for the sake of our health to "sit up straight," because good posture is so important. You've probably heard that old saying that correct posture can instantly make you look ten pounds lighter. Well, it's true! And when you are sitting or standing straight your body language conveys confidence and a sense of self-esteem to others.

How your posture affects your health

How does posture affect our health? Poor posture can actually create fatigue, because it causes muscles, ligaments and joints to work harder. Not to mention the strain on bones, joints and organs because of unnecessary pressure.

For example, I've read that looking down at a 45-degree angle instead of holding your head upright uses five times more energy. And the strain on your muscles decreases the flow of blood and oxygen to the brain by as much as 30 percent.

A good way to check out your posture is to stand with your back to a wall. If your shoulders, bottom, and back of your head are touching the wall, your posture is correct. If they're not, move around so that they are, and check how that feels.

Another quick way is to take a big deep breath in, being sure to expand and lift your chest up. When you do this, your head automatically will straighten up and move back, your shoulders will move down and back, giving you the correct posture.

Checking out your Posture whilst sitting

Take a good look at the two pictures above. The one on the right is good posture and the one on the left is the one that I was getting into the habit of, whilst I was on the computer.

Hunching over your desk, slouching on the sofa or wearing ill-fitting shoes all put undue pressure on the spine, pinching nerves and muscles and can lead to headaches. The triangle shaped muscle that covers the shoulder blade is one of the major muscles involved in pain arising from bad posture.

Tense or fatigued people tend to roll their shoulders forward, contracting this muscle in the shoulder blade, pulling on the pain sensors in the muscle tissue and in turn causing these muscles to pull and strain the scalp.

Since changing my posture I do feel in much better health and no longer have aches in my neck or shoulders. Try it - it does work!

What can help to gain good posture?

One of the first people to notice how faulty posture in daily life is connected with serious health, physical and emotional problems, is Frederick Matthias Alexander. He pioneered a simple effective approach to rebalancing the body through awareness of movement and touch.

From observations of his own behaviour, Alexander developed a method that used his breathing to alter habitual muscular response. This marked the beginning of the Alexander Technique.

Alexander was aware that the correct relationship of the head, neck and back is essential for proper movement. He observed that people can misuse their bodies in sitting and standing, and he helped his students become conscious of these faulty habits and postures.

He also taught how to interrupt or inhibit familiar postural "sets" that corresponded to these recurring habits so that the body could be guided to allow improved movement, balance and posture.

Learning the Alexander Technique

In a recent study, women who were taught the Alexander technique showed improved balance, leading researchers to conclude that it can greatly help people to avoid falls, especially later on in life.

In a typical learning session, the student may lie on a table, sit on a stool or remain standing. The student may be given instructions such as "let your head move forward and up and allow your body to lengthen and widen"

While saying this, the teacher gently prevents the old habit and encourages a new and improved response of the head/neck/back relationship. During this time, the student is told to do nothing but simply think about the instruction given by the teacher. Eventually, the student constructs a new body image and in doing so, retarins and reorganises the way he or she moves.

Athletes find the Alexander Technique helpful for improving performance and relieving chronic pain, whilst many well-known actors have also received training because of the many benefits it provides.

You can learn the technique through books or by following a class sometimes held in your local health or education centre.

How good eating can improve both health and beauty

How Yoga can also improve wellbeing and good posture

Chiropractic medicine can also stop back and shoulder pain

Osteopathy is another alternative therapy that helps to relieve joint pain greatly

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