The Unexpected Health Benefits of Good Posture

We’re all guilty of slouching every so often, but did you know it doesn’t just cause back pain? There are a whole host of physical and mental symptoms that can be traced back to poor posture. From high blood pressure and constipation to depression! We’ve put together some tips on how you can improve your posture and be healthier, happier and more attractive!

The amount of different ways that bad posture can affect your life is pretty amazing. From physical problems to mental and social issues! Among other things, it’s been found to cause and worsen:

• Back pain
• Anxiety
• Depression
• Tiredness and muscle fatigue
• Social problems and lack of confidence
• Breathing difficulties
• High blood pressure
• Constipation
• Pot bellies and other unattractive features
• Headaches and migraines
• Pelvic floor weakness and disorders

Who would’ve thought that slouching could cause such havoc? Luckily, while bad posture is an easy habit to slip into there are many ways you can improve it.

Top 5 Ways to Improve Your Posture

Exercise

Ensuring that you’re in generally good physical shape will make it much easier for your body to support itself properly. Your core muscles are the group of muscles in your torso that include your abdominals and lower back. As these connect your spine and pelvis, they are a key part in maintaining good posture. When they are strong you will find that you stand and sit in an upright position without even thinking about it.  If you’re looking to focus entirely on your core muscles, then floor exercises like crunches and planks will do the job very efficiently. More general activities like running and swimming will strengthen your core muscles while giving you a great workout!

Yoga and Stretching

Yoga teachers are often admired for their long, lean physiques and perfect posture. This is because all that stretching and attention to the body keeps it in perfect alignment. It also strengthens the core muscles and encourages practitioners to think about the way they stand and sit. Take just 5 minutes in the morning to do a couple of posture-enhancing poses like cobra or bridge. These poses will open your chest and shoulders, relieve pressure in your back and lengthen your spine. Yoga creates the foundation for excellent posture that will stay with you all day! 

Posture Cushions

We spend an awful amount of time sitting down, which is terrible for posture. Even chairs that are designed to encourage you to sit correctly are not always a good fit for your body. Sitting on a wedge cushion allows you to customise any chair to your body’s unique proportions. Good sitting posture makes sure you're always comfortable and protected against back and neck problems. StressNoMore has a huge range of pressure cushions so there’s something for everyone!

Check Your Work Space

If you work at a desk all day then you probably suffer from back or neck pain. Even with the best of intentions it’s easy to fall into bad habits when you're concentrating as you end up slouching without noticing. Make sure your chair has arm rests and is adjusted correctly for your height and lower back. Your feet should be flat on the floor in front of you and your arms should be at 90 degree angles. Another good tip is to make sure you're getting up from your desk every half an hour or so. Even if it’s just to go to the printer! This will help you to avoid stiffness in your muscles and joints.

Choose a ‘Straighten Up’ Cue

While you’re still getting the hang of maintaining good posture, decide on a prompt that will remind you to straighten up during the day. This could be a reminder on your phone that goes off every 30 minutes. Or you can link it to other things that you do regularly. For example every time you get up or sit down, think about your posture. This is a way of forming habits that’s hugely effective, as by joining up new and old habits your brain gets ‘tricked’ into adjusting more quickly.