Posture
Exercises and Imbalances
☮ Benefits of Good Posture
Physical benefits
- Less back pain.
- Increased energy
- Fewer headaches caused by muscle tension.
- Increased lung capacity and better breathing.
- Improved circulation and digestion.
- Stmmetrical body and muscle utilisation.
Psychological benefits
- Appear more attractive.
- Look taller and slimmer.
- Increased self-confidence.
- Improved mood.
Societal benefits
- People size each other up.
- If you present yourself as defeated, then people will react as if you are losing.
- If you straighten up, then people will treat you positively.
- Standing up straight accepts the responsibility of life and transforms chaos into the realities of habitable order.
🧘🏻♂️ Exercises
Routine 1: upper body
- Over and backs – open and stretch muscles that cause hunching. Narrow grip as mobility improves.
- Cobra pose – stretch all the muscles that become tight during sitting.
- Side stretch – correct asymmetries caused by slouching to the side.
- Wall slide – strengthen lower traps. Add chin nods to activate neck muscles.
Routine 2: lower body
- Quadruped thoracic rotations – increase mid-back mobility.
- Kneeling hip flexor stretch – activate hip flexors. Contract glutes and abs.
- Pigeon stretch – activate hip flexors and open hips with external rotation.
- Glute bridges – strengthen glutes. Prgress to single-leg glute bridges.
Yoga
⚖ Imbalances
Anterior pelvic tilt
- Front of the pelvis rotatest forwars, whilst the back of the pelvis rises.
- Anterior pelvic tilt is caused by the shortening of the hip flexors and the lengthening of the hip extensors.
- The biggest cause of anterior pelvic tilt is sitting, as muscles become tight or inhibited.
Exercises
- Hip flexor stretch
- Glute bridge
- Kneeling leg lift
- Kickbacks
- Squat
- Runner’s lunge
- Butterfly stretch
- Plank
Posterior pelvic tilt
- The pelvis rotates backwards, causing the front of the pelvis to rise, whilst the back drops.
- It is caused by lengthened hip flexors and shortened hip extensors.
Exercises
- Cobra pose
- Lunges
- Hamstring stretch
- Superman stretch
- Leg raise