The Secrets of Proper Posture

Article by C. S. Lewis

My father was in the Navy; I guess that was why he regularly reminded me to stand up straight as I was growing up. In fact, when I told him I actually preferred to slouch a little, he informed me that I looked unprofessional and lazy. Of course, like all parents, he was right; however he forgot to mention one thing. Maintaining proper posture not only makes us look good, but it also assists with our body's functional processes. Standing straight up allows the body to operate more effectively, like a complex machine. By holding the body in the correct alignment, we can more efficiently carry out our daily tasks because proper posture assists in effective functioning of vital organs. There are a few simple posture-fixing tips that, once applied in your life, can help transform any poor, slouching habits you may currently have. These quick fixes are an excellent way to measure your posture when you are sitting, walking, or standing.

When you are sitting in a meeting, in the car, or at a table or desk, pretend you are on a plane in take-off mode. That will get you sitting up straight. We all know what it feels like to have the flight attendant politely remind us to take our chairs out of the recline mode and sit up straight while the plane lifts off. Who knew that extra quarter-inch you were reclined could impact the ability of the commercial aircraft to take-off? Regardless of how comfortable plane seats are, sitting upright will help our nervous systems and spine in their functioning and we will be able to better focus. The next time you find yourself in a boring class or meeting, make a mental note to sit up straight and you will find it within you to stay more alert. It is actually pretty amazing how much more efficient you feel when you sit up straight.

Walk with pride when you stroll to and from places. I was in a fashion show when I was 14 years old and I will never forget how the professional models taught me to walk. "Pretend a rope is tied around your hips and you are being pulled from the centre, a few inches below the belly button," they said. Give it a try, next time you are walking, let your hips lead your body. Your shoulder blades will naturally go up-and-back, your eyes will be looking straight ahead, and you definitely cannot slouch forward when you walk this way. Walking with proper posture looks fabulous and is a great way to burn a few extra calories as well as increase your walking speed.

When simply standing, there are a few different standards that should be used to evaluate proper posture. When you look at yourself in the mirror, make sure your shoulders and hips are level, parallel to the ground. The head should be right between the shoulders. The arms need to hang in a comfortable position, sort of relaxed, with the first finger and thumb pointing forward. The knees will point forward and the feet should have a slight turn to the outsides. Turn sideways and look at your profile; you should be able to imagine a straight line from the ceiling to the floor that would go straight through your ear, the middle of the shoulder, centre of the hip, barely behind the centre of the knee and finally down to the ankle bone.

So whether it is at work, school, on a casual walk, or just standing around, making minor adjustments to your posture can take only a few seconds. The majority of these few moments are taken by the mental decision to actually fix a poor habit. Becoming aware of poor posture is half the battle of fixing it; so once you realize you need to adjust your posture, increase your professional image, assist your body in its functionality and burn a few extra calories, be proud of this acknowledgement and then, "Stand up straight!"