Maintaining good posture is important for our long-term health. Poor posture can lead to the development of joint, muscular, and circulatory problems, which can all cause pain. It can also limit our athletic performance. By adopting good posture now, you could prevent such health problems and excel better at activities like running and weightlifting. This post explains a few different ways to improve your posture.

Keep your head up

The most common posture mistake is walking with a stoop. People who are tall or shy often do this. As you get older, this could transform into a permanent hunchback known as kyphosis – trying to stand up straight with this condition could be too painful. By learning to stand with your head up and shoulders back now, you can reduce the risk of developing this condition. Get used to staring ahead as you walk, and try not to be looking at your phone constantly. 

Look in the mirror

You can also help fix your posture by looking in the mirror. You’ll likely notice if your shoulders are slumped or you’re leaning back too much, and you can adjust your posture accordingly.

Do stretches

Stretches can help relieve muscle tension, which can help us loosen up and naturally adopt a better posture. Stretches to try at home include shoulder rolls, the plank, and child’s pose. Stretching before exercise is particularly important for preventing muscular and joint injuries, which could contribute to bad posture.

Practise yoga

Yoga is a form of meditative exercise that promotes good posture. It involves holding various stretches in place for long periods, which can help us to become better at naturally adopting these positions. Look for a yoga class near you or practise yoga at home using online videos to guide you. 

Try a massage

Massage therapy can also help to correct posture problems. A massage can loosen up tight muscles and reduce soreness in joints, discouraging us from adopting a bad posture. If you’ve got tight muscles or joints and feel this is affecting your posture, book a massage with a qualified therapist to see if this helps. 

Use a height adjustable chair

Your sitting posture is just as important as your standing posture. A healthy posture involves sitting against the back of the chair with your knees directly in front of you and your feet on the floor. Your feet mustn’t hang from a chair, which can cause circulatory problems. Use a height-adjustable chair to place your feet on the floor when sitting at a desk.

Wear comfortable footwear

Speaking of feet, did you know that our footwear can influence our posture? Uncomfortable shoes can cause us to walk unusually, which can knock on our entire body’s composure. High heels are mainly known for negatively affecting people’s posture if regularly worn – it is important to wear flats mainly and only occasionally wear heels to prevent damage to the hips and spine. Make sure to wear shoes that are the right size and not damaged in any way to help you walk correctly. This will stop you from adopting a poor posture.