People everywhere are searching for healthcare solutions; the newest trends to make them fit and fabulous. As a society we seek the fountain of youth, with desperation to stay young and live in our prime. What if the secret to being fit and fabulous was there all along? Remember when your mom told you to sit up straight, you may have not known it at the time, but she was sharing with you the secret to poise and performance, attractiveness and alignment, a fit body with optimal function. She gave you the secret of “Posh-ture.”
Posture is Posh
When you see a beautiful person walking down 5th Avenue, what’s the first thing you notice? You may notice their physique, or how they strut with confidence. You notice the design of their body, or their posture. And all posh individuals “wear” their posture well. They pull their shoulders back demonstrating elegance; they move their hips flawlessly. The look good, and they feel good too.
Posture is the New Wellness Trend
In the search for the fountain of youth, people all over the world are taking pills, potions, and lotions to make them look flawless and to exude a greater vibrancy. Instead of searching for solutions from the outside, these individuals should re-align their health priorities and focus on improving their health from the inside out. They should focus on correcting the structural framework of their body, their posture.
Whether stationary or moving, everyone can feel the effects of posture at all times. Good posture demonstrates confidence, balance, and pain free movement; it allows you to enjoy time at home or at work, and can enhance the quality of your exercise routine contributing to an overall feeling of better health and wellness.
Posture improves how you look while improving how you feel. Open posture is an open channel of communication from the brain to the body promoting healthy nervous system wiring, blood circulation, and respiratory function. When the body is closed, the internal organs are compressed which causes many negative health effects. Postural distortions of the spine cause stress to the nerves, which control the function of the vital organs of the body. A bent forward ribcage compresses the diaphragm restricting range of motion for a full breathing cycle. Having a nice, straight spine not only demonstrates poise, it promotes efficiency in function of your internal organs.
How to have a more Posh Posture in 3 easy steps:
1) Be Mindful of Your Body in Space. So much of what we do as human beings is habitual and repetitive, performed from a subconscious state of mind. We don’t even think about the position of our bodies while performing common daily activities. We are constantly responding to stimulus in our environment instead of anticipating and preparing to interact with it. If you are seated right now while reading this did you notice your posture before being prompted? Are you sitting slouched or straight? Are your shoulder rolled forward or pulled back. Bring posture into your conscious awareness, be mindful of your body, and look more posh.
2) Check Your Posture in the Mirror. Make a habit of checking your posture every time you check your hair in the mirror. When you walk by a mirror, check your inner beauty with your outer beauty. Make sure your shoulders are aligned and your head is up (with the ear in proper alignment over the shoulder). Make sure you are standing over both hips with equal weight distribution. Check your posture, and just as you would fix your hair if it didn’t look perfect, correct your posture to be stunning.
3) Design you Workspace. Designing your workspace to be more ergonomically efficient is not only posh; it’s also productive for greater work output. Human factor engineering is the concept of utilizing work tools to promote efficiency during work and prevent overuse injuries. For example, if you work in a salon and are on your feet for hours at a time, wear shoes that comfortably support the natural framework of your body. Place the most commonly used items within an arm’s reach away at elbow-level to avoid reaching and straining. Take care of yourself at work so you can take better care of your clients.
The secret to being fit and fabulous is out, and I wasn’t the first to tell you about it. You have heard it over and over again- “don’t slouch.” Although everyone knows posture is important to their health, the truly posh individuals are the ones who really own the concept. They work with the natural design of the body, not against it. They have “Posh-ture.”
Written By:
Dr. Krista Burns DC, DrHA, CPEP, CPS
Doctor of Chiropractic
Doctor of Health Administration
Certified Postural Specialist
Co-Founder American Posture Institute
Posture by Design, Not by Circumstance
www.AmericanPostureInstitute.com
