If you are depressed, you must hunch forward.  You get a depressed posture. If you don’t, you cannot stay depressed.

If you are sad, it’s reflected in your mouth and face and in your whole body.

When you are happy, it also shows all over.  You smile, your posture improves, you may even glow.  And your immune system will be happier, too!

If you continually keep thoughts that affect your body in a negative way, your body will get used to being in that position.  And when your muscles get ‘stuck’ in a position like that you will end up with pain.

This little video will give you insight into how thoughts affect your posture.

And, it will cheer you.  It has a good ending and shows the power of persevering.

If you are not familiar with the movie Star Wars, the main actors were capable of using their personal ‘force’ to control events or things.  That is what the child is trying to do not knowing that it was only a movie.

Rolling your shoulders is one way to get your shoulder muscles back into balance. It help them get “un-stuck.” What do I mean by “rolling”? Just watch the little video below.

I demonstrate how easily you can start making circles with your arms–2 different moves–that will help the muscles all around your shoulder. This gets the circulation going. It gets your muscles cooperating again. It will help relax your back and “massage” your arms.

Pay attention to the feelings in your shoulders, upper body and arms as you do these movements. Don’t worry if you hear a little “clunking.” That just means there is some imbalance. You may notice that it becomes less over time as your muscles get used to working together again.

If it’s very difficult to do these movements, then only do them to the best of your ability and comfort level until your shoulder muscles and joints become used to moving again. And remember: It’s your body and you always have to make the decision about what’s best for you.

Here’s the video.

At the same time, the muscles in your back get overstretched and so they complain.  (They hate being stretched too far!)  They give you pain to call your attention to the fact that something is wrong.

Collapsed posture also causes lower back pain, headaches and migraines, constipation and lots and lots of other problems.  It’s a primary cause of “old age.”

You had wonderful posture when you were very young and with a bit of help from you, you can have it again.

Watch this whole video through to the end before you try this movement.  At the end, the teacher will demonstrate how to come out of the movement.

You can use a towel rolled into a tube and folded towels for supports for your head.  If you need to adjust the size of your “tube” it’s easy to just unroll the towel a bit.