When you sit do you slouch?
When you stand do you slouch?
Slouching is a common position for all of us- it feels more comforting and there is no required effort to do it. However the long term effects of slouching might surprise you; poor posture leads to headaches, sleep issues, hip, knee, or ankle pain, digestive problems, and even stress. The average American adult now spends about 6½ hours a day sitting. For teenagers ages 12 to 19, that number is eight hours a day. When you are sitting for long periods of time without moving your body or slouching when standing your natural S-shape curve in your spine suffers.
Luckily yoga is here to counteract those effects by improving your posture and is one of the best ways to do it!
Here are a few tips and tricks to keep in mind with improving your posture with yoga:
#1- Awareness
Bringing awareness to your body shape is SO important, if
you remind yourself throughout your day to sit up tall, like our great yoga teachers say “Almost as if there is a string at the top of your head and someone is pulling it up.”, this visual allows you to internalize the shape and helps you to not slouch.
#2- Yoga Postures
Standing Pose (Tadasana): This is the correct alignment for your body and can be achieved by engaging your entire body.
Adho Mukha Svanasana (Downward Facing Dog): This pose helps lengthen the spine and opens your shoulders.
Plank Pose: This pose is all about engaging the core. A common reason behind slouching is poor core strength so having a plank pose in your practice will take the pressure off the spine and allow for the core to be fully engaged.
Bhujangasana (Cobra Pose): This pose is helping to gently stretch the spine and open your chest giving you strength to keep a straight alignment throughout your day.
With proper posture comes great benefits:
- It will improve body alignment which in return allows your organs to function properly (which includes your stomach which will lead to improved digestion).
- It will help eliminate back pain.
- It will help to reduce the risk of arthritis and join pain.
The benefits of yoga are endless!
Written by Kimille Smith for Mountain Yoga Sandy
