STAND TALL WELLBEING
DID
YOUKNOW?
Good posture prevents
constipation and
incontinence
Good foundations
It goes without saying that carrying
yourself well looks good – tweaking
your body position can give you grace
and elegance – but adopting a straight
stance has huge health advantages
too. Back pain relief, better breathing
and improved digestion are just some
of the physical benefits that experts
pin on proper posture. Women’s
health physiotherapist Claire O’Kane
(thebodymechanics.co.uk) says that
correct posture is particularly important
because it keeps the bones and joints
in alignment, so that the body’s muscles
are being used optimally.
‘It helps to reduce a build-up of
tension in the muscles, which will
eventually lead to pain and abnormal
wearing of joint surfaces,’ she explains.
In short, bad posture poses the risk of
physical problems as we age and can
potentially lead to the need for surgery
later in life. ‘Adjusting your posture is
also a way to feel more energised and
look instantly younger,’ adds Claire,
‘When people stoop and slouch, it
really adds on the years.’A slouch epidemic
So what are we doing wrong? One of
the main causes of terrible posture is
that as a nation, we’re simply not moving
enough. ‘A sedentary lifestyle, being
slumped over a device, remaining in
the same hunched position for too long
and not exercising enough, is to blame,’
says Claire. ‘And as we get older, our
muscles become weaker and so the
effects of gravity pulling us down into
a stooped, collapsed position are
harder to overcome.’
Considering most daily activities
involve only flexing the spine forward,
it’s no wonder the shape of our frame
suffers from this repetition. ‘Whether
we’re working at a desk, looking after
children, driving or cooking, it all tends
to be done in the forward flex spine
position. We actually do very little in
life where you take the spine the other
way – lifting backwards – which would
balance things out,’ says Lynne
Robinson, founder of Body Control
Pilates (bodycontrolpilates.com). Badposture also creeps up on us, which is
why it’s easy to ignore. ‘You don’t get
bad posture overnight, yet it’s insidious,’
says Lynne, adding, ‘The way you hold
your body becomes habitual, until you
realise you may have a problem.’Quick corrections
The good news is that no matter what
your age, it’s entirely possible to turn
around the effects of bad posture –
it just takes a little commitment to
the cause. ‘The body has the ability to
adapt so it will change if you give it the
chance,’ says Lynne. ‘You’ll need to
work harder at 65 to get the same
results than you would have got at 45,
but with awareness, more targeted
exercises and more repetition, it’s
possible to improve posture at any age.’
And it’s the small, daily actions that can
make a big difference...
ADJUST YOUR LOAD. Do you always
carry your bag on the same shoulder?
Most people have a ‘strong side’ of the
body that does all the donkeywork, but
alternating sides when carrying heavy
items will help keep the body balanced.
Considering the average woman’s
handbag weighs around 6lb – that’s
equivalent to about three bags of sugar- it’s worth being mindful how you’re
lugging it around.
RETHINK YOUR WARDROBE.
Tight, ill-fitting clothes can throw off
the body’s alignment. Get properly
measured for a supportive bra and
consider swapping your heels for
flats. High heels can take the hips
and spine out of a healthy position
and push your body weight forward
through the balls of the feet.
TAKE A POSTURE BREAK. Back
and neck-tension are common with
computer and laptop users and even
looking down at your phone for a long
time encourages bad posture. Take
regular screen breaks where you get
up and stretch. ‘For working, invest
in a good chair, and a standing desk
can help to ensure more movement
throughout the day,’ says Claire.
BE BODY AWARE. We don’t often tune
in to how we’re sitting or standing so take
a moment to self-scan your body >>