What’s your posture like?
We don’t think much about it until maybe we see ourselves in a picture, and see how slumped over we look! I know that’s happened to me!
While looking down at your cell phone and scrolling through social media, your posture is taking the hit! Your creating curvatures in your back and neck that shouldn’t be there!
As you get older it’s so important to put some good practices into place, being mindful of your posture. This will help your neck and back to be strong your whole life! Plus it will help you to not lose inches in your height as you age! That’s good for us who are short! Good posture is also more youthful-looking which is an instant anti-ager!
How bad posture affects your body
Tension Headaches. Staring at screens ( TV, Computer, Phone, etc) increases the stress and tension in your neck and shoulders. Nerves are pinched causing spasms which lead to headaches. The smaller the device (phones) the more problems it causes because of how you’re moving your head and neck forward.
Neck and Head Curvature. You don’t want to lose that! Bad posture will actually change the natural curves in these areas creating headaches, tightness, and pain. Studies show that when you lose that natural curvature, your spine loses 50% of its strength. Yikes! No wonder back pain is the most common complaint at the doctor’s office!
Lung Capacity. The “forward” head motion can pull your whole spine out of alignment, and can even result in 30% of your lung capacity! All because we are slouching over? Yes, it’s scary to think this is happening to our bodies every day!
Forward Head Motion. Aches, fatigue, disc compression, early arthritis, headaches, TMJ, fibromyalgia are all a result of too much looking down at our phones.
Your Internal Organs. Bad posture smashes your inside organs together, making it harder for your lungs and intestines to work efficiently. Do you have digestion and breathing issues? Your posture could be contributing to that.
Let’s get taller and get out of pain!
- Computer Screens. Try as much as you can, to keep your screen at eye level, so your neck doesn’t get tight and start to spasm.
- At A Desk. Sit back in your chair, not on the edge of it. Elevate your hips. This has made a huge difference for me. I keep a low stool under my desk and rest my feet on it when I sit. It takes the pressure off of your hips which helps the back.
- Avoid “Text Neck”. When you’re looking down multiple times a day, it really strains your neck. Over days, weeks, months and years it all adds up to a lot of neck strain and pain!
- Your Phone. Lift up your phone to more eye level, and move your eyes, not your head while reading.
- Comfy Shoes. Go for comfy over fashion!
- Exercise. Too many pounds puts stress on your back and pulls you down. Get moving and feel better.
- Yoga. Yoga can be magic for your posture. Stretching out your ligaments and spine will make you feel amazing, and will also give you better posture.
- Your Abs. Make them stronger! A strong abdomen will help you in all areas of your posture and health.
- Stretch, and Stretch Some More! A few times a day, stretch and love every second of it!
I hope this has helped you to think of your posture and put some new habits into place to improve it. It’s so easy to slump over and slouch and not give it a thought.
Let’s all age with grace and strength, standing straighter and taller and enjoying life to the fullest!
Until next time,
~pat
