Core Cambria

Are you having posture problem? Have you tried a course of posture exercises to correct it? Most people would say they feel their posture could be better but why does it become poor and what is the best way to improve it? how to correct posture Modern living means we probably are not as active as previous generations. We spend long hours sitting at desks, in cars or when relaxing, slumping in front of the TV. In such condition our muscles are not being used as nature wants to do about them. Some parts of body have to tolerate extra stress including the neck and shoulder while the lower back area gets weaker day by day. Poor posture has been recognized as a factor in health for many years resulting in the development of posture exercises to correct it. But using the certain muscles set during posture exercises we disturb the natural reflex system for improving posture properly. how to correct your posture Our body has several built in postural reflexes to control muscular activity for specific movement and positions. In case of having poor posture the reflexes are not allowed to work as they need to do. Stress may be causing you to stiffen your neck and tighten your shoulders. Such actions disturb the normal balance of your body movement and positioning. The constant improper use of muscles can cause creating issues in your movements. It becomes a tight situation for you. The more you move in a poor way, the better you get at moving this way until it feels right. While I encourage following posture exercises to get better posture but in fact such movements create more stress for muscles and joints. What could be done in this situation to get the better posture? Is it the best natural way to stand? In my role as a teacher of The Alexander Technique I see many people who suffer as a result of poor posture. Most of cases were involved following instruction for correcting poor posture. Adding a little extra tension in order to stand “properly” will not improve your posture – it just adds to the strain on your muscles and joints. Rather than putting pressure over muscles to sit and stand straightly you should learn to remove stress causing problems in the way of natural reflexes. So it’s time to focus over poise not posture. Poise is a skill we usually lose in your youth. Having poise in your body means that you don’t need to do a lot of effort to keep your body into balanced posture and to perform all basic action in proper natural way. You can see this skill in professional athletes and media personalities. Just imagine the great personalities of Muhammad Ali and Fred Astaire and you will have its better understanding. I can’t believe that they have followed any kind of exercise to improve their posture. Poise can be achieved just by pushing the stress and tension out of your body and letting it respond to the power of gravity. When you are on top of the world and walk with a spring in your step, you are poised. If you feel no tension at your back, neck or shoulder, it means you are having poise. Trying to improve your posture by trying harder will take you further away from your natural poised state. So don’t waste your time in such efforts and let your inner push to come out to coordinate your standing, sitting and walking and you will regain your poise.