Why do you want to have better posture anyway?
- You will feel better. You will have less pain.
- You will function better. Your joints will be in neutral instead of overloaded by poor posture.
- Your organs will work better. You will be able to breathe and digest better and your heart won’t be squashed.
- You will look younger.
What’s the best way to improve your posture? Here are seven ways:
1. Remember the old ‘walk with a book on your head’? This is a variation on that. Present a string is attached to the crown of your head and is lifting the crown of your head to the sky.
2. Pretend a string is attached to your breastbone and is pulling you to the sky.
3. Have you lost the small curve behind your waist? Stick your butt out a bit to get it back. (You are supposed to have a small curve behind your waist.)
4. Get arch supports for your shoes if you have flat or fallen arches. The arches of your feet are the support structure of your body. If your arches have collapsed, your posture collapses, too. You need real supports for your arches not mushy inserts. Running shoe stores usually have good arch supports. Try them in the store to make sure they actually fit your arch even if the size indicates that they will.
5. Strengthen your back and the back of your body all the way from knees to head.
6. Unlock your knees and have soft calf muscles.
7. Wear shoes with a flat, neutral heel. A raised heel will throw your posture off.
So now you know not just one but several of the best ways to improve your posture.
