As you stare at your phone, do you pay attention to your posture? Are you suffering from text neck—a modern phenomenon? We all do it, but if we want our body and mind healthy, we need to raise our posture awareness.
You may not think twice about your posture, but you ought to. Poor posture habits, whether sitting or upright, can lead to health concerns down the line. Things like chronic fatigue and herniated disks may pop up in your future if you don’t develop proper posture routines now.
Developing a good posture doesn’t take much. The key is to practice simple techniques throughout your daily routine. Once you do, you will notice an improvement in mood and well-being.
Looking to improve your posture? Follow our tips for better posture to get your spine feeling fine!
Mirror, Mirror
A good place to start with working on your posture is by simply taking a look in a full-length mirror. Notice your stance—are you hunched over at all? Your thumbs ought to be pointing ahead and your palms towards your thighs.
We want our shoulders back and our weight evenly distributed to our feet. Stick your chest out and be proud of yourself. You are well on your way to developing good posture!
When you first head out into the day, stand tall. Put a stickie note on your mirror to remind yourself if you have to. You now have an anchor in your mind that you can draw from.
Remember to check in with yourself throughout the day. If you notice your mood dropping, a simple tweak to your positive will give you a mental boost. Your body and mind are more interconnected than you might think.
Become Aware Through Yoga and Pilates
Practices such as yoga and pilates are great for disciplining your body. Before we discipline our bodies, we must first become more aware of them. These forms of exercise will help you improve your posture.
Through yoga and pilates, our bodies will become more aligned. You will return to a natural state of being, and your body will thank you for it. Our posture has never looked so healthy.
One highly recommended pose you will want to try is the brainpower pose (or mountain pose). The pose is very simple: stand up tall like a tree, shoulders back, and arms out rotated with your palms facing forward. Do this for 2 minutes and you will feel noticeably happier.
Imagine a Balloon
This one is an oldie but a goodie. Imagine a balloon attached to the top of your head where the string is gently pulling your head up. This will not only keep your head on straight but improve your posture.
Simple tricks like this can remind you how easy it is to get your body aligned. This works whether you are sitting at your desk or going for a walk.
Sitting Not Standing
Improving your posture while sitting 8 hours a day at your desk is no small feat. We are not lost in our attempts though. There are things you can do throughout your workday to improve your posture.
One thing to be aware of is your eye line with your monitor. We want our necks and bodies to remain upright and not strained.
If you need help sitting up straight, consider this back support pillow to help improve your posture. A posture seat cushion will provide lumbar support and get you feeling good while you work. Remember to keep both your feet planted and your chest open.
We need to remind ourselves that we aren’t glued to our desks. Set a reminder to get up for 5-15 minutes every hour. A short walk around the block will get your juices flowing again and keep you in good spirits.
Improve Your Posture, Expand Your Mind
As you go about your day, remember to put our posture practices to good use. Even if you spend 5 minutes a day to improve your posture, that is better than nothing.
When your body feels good, so does your mind. Why not expand your mind with positivity? Read our blog to feed your mind, body, spirit, and soul.