Ideal posture helps breathing
“Stand tall and sit up straight.” At some point in our lives, most of us have heard this from our parents, teachers or coaches.
Most of us would accommodate this request and then go back to our old habits as quickly as the eyes were off us. Unfortunately, these poor postural habits may have a much bigger impact than we once realized. In fact, practising good posture and alignment has a bearing on the quality of our lives by affecting mood, perception, performance, breathing and fitness.
Good or bad posture influences the way we feel and how others perceive us. Research has found that when individuals slouch, they are more prone to developing feeling of helplessness and sadness. Changing your posture can change your state of mind.
A recent study assigned people to either a slumped or upright posture and had them complete a reading test, a social-stress speech task, and mood, self-esteem and perceived-threat assessment. Results showed that the upright group reported better mood, higher self-esteem, greater arousal and less fear than the slumped group.
Poor posture affects our energy levels. When in a slouched posture, energy levels go down. This is especially prominent in a work-related environment when sitting for prolonged periods of time. Slouching in a chair behind a computer screen creates a physiological and psychological response of fatigue. Simply adjusting your posture to sitting upright or getting up and moving around can change these feelings, almost instantly.
When it comes to fitness and activity, ideal posture and structural alignment is critical for optimal results. Posture affects our breathing capacity, which in turn influences our ability to perform cardiovascular and strength exercises at our best. When the thoracic spine is in an excessive forward curve, as in a hunched posture, it is difficult to take in a full breath. Try this for yourself. Then sit or stand tall and take in a breath. You can achieve a fuller breath when you have good posture.
When it comes to improving posture and alignment, the biggest challenge you will have is reeducating the nervous system. The nervous system is the sophisticated operating system of the body that controls function and movement. Through repetition, the nervous system lays down pathways that become automatic. This is where slouching for long periods of time is a hazard. Our nervous system will program this posture as being correct. Breaking this habit takes awareness and continual commitment to change.
For tips on better posture, go to this story on Calgaryherald.com.