Posture is how we hold our bodies while standing, sitting, and lying down. It refers to the body’s alignment and positioning. Good posture entails training your body to walk, sit, stand, and lie in a way that places the least strain on muscles and ligaments.
Over the past few decades, the rapid increase in the use of computers and smartphones has changed our postures dramatically. These poor postural habits lead to unhealthy stress on our neck, shoulders, and spine leading to constricted nerves and blood vessels and pain.
Adopting and practicing good postural habits brings many health benefits. Let us look at what benefits an upright posture brings:
Better Mood/ Energy Level/ Confidence/ Mental Skills
First, an upright posture will help you create better first impressions and boost your self-confidence. Good posture communicates that you are physiologically healthy and robust. Upright postures may also help you improve cognitive tasks such as memorizing and problem-solving, and adopting an upright seated posture can improve psychological and test performance levels.
Biological Benefits
Poor posture can create unnecessary fatigue by putting extra stress on your spinal muscles and reducing your breathing capacity. It’s not surprising that when your body is in optimal alignment, you can breathe more air into your lungs to feel more energetic. Good posture also aids digestion, reduces posture-related headaches, and relieves back and shoulder pain. Some studies show that sitting upright with regular breaks is a good strategy to prevent low back pain – particularly beneficial for those of us who spend a long time sitting in front of a computer. Once you develop better postural habits, your movements will also be more efficient, your body will be better balanced and supported, and daily discomforts and pain will be reduced.
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