I’ve had pretty poor posture my entire life. I can see several reasons for it and am now ready to change it. For good.
Slouching is just so bad for me, and it creates a bad “look” for my body. My belly protrudes and my upper body hangs down. I walk/run over a mile every day and do crunches and other ab exercises too – I want that to actually show; not be clouded by my crappy posture.
As I was looking for ideas on how to improve my posture – I even learned it is probably the culprit of my lower back aches I always get. Never figured that would be the case.
It will take some constant vigilance on my part I think. I’ve developed some really really bad habits over the many years of poor posture – and they’ll be difficult to break.
The other thing I’m going to try and do is include some pilates and yoga exercises in my daily routine.
I always feel better after doing the Cat/Cow (on all fours hold your back straight, then rounded as if you’re a “scared cat”. Relax back into the flat back or “cow” then, repeat.).
There’s also a great exercise from a Pilates DVD I used to use. You lay on your tummy with your legs spread shoulder width apart and your arms both raised above your head. Tighten your abs (like a string is pulling your belly button toward your back) and then, make a wide sweep with your arms down to your sides; almost like you’re doing the breast stroke. As you do this tighten your shoulder and back muscles to pull your upper body up as well. Lower your upper bodyback down as you reach up tall with your arms. Repeat from beginning.
That last one really makes my back feel great and strong and helps pull my shoulders into the proper place….I’m a big shoulder sloucher.
It doesn’t help that I work on the computer, and am often carrying a baby on my hip. But, I’ve got to give it some effort and try to get this under control. There have been too many bad posture years and if I let it go any longer the effects will be even worse, and the habit that much harder to break.