The biggest mistake I think people make when trying to improve their posture is believing that they have to learn how to sit, stand and walk correctly. They think it’s all about consciously trying to force their body into a better position. They’re often surprised when I tell them that this is absolutely not what having good posture is about. How many times have you tried to sit or stand up straight and then a few moments later you get distracted and end up back in your normal position? Furthermore, for many people trying to sit or stand up straighter can feel quite uncomfortable and painful because their bodies are not ready to hold them in this position.
A much better approach is to improve the balance of your muscles from left to right, and from front to back, because it’s the balance of these muscles that determines your body alignment. I give my clients gentle posture correction exercises to do daily. These exercises stretch and strengthen certain parts of their body and get them into better alignment without them even having to think about it. It’s not a quick fix and it does take time and effort, but it could help you to end your current pain (if you have any), feel more confident about the way you look, and reduce your risk of future pain and injuries.
Ameet Bhakta BSc. DipHE, Posture Specialist