“Is Having A Good Posture Important To You?”

​“How important is having a good posture to you?”
The question was directed at a 20 something year old man, slouching on a bench, enjoying an ice cream.
‘I suppose it’s quite important. I am not doing badly, have improved a lot since I started the new exercise regime.’
The improvement was indeed visible: he had more height, his appearance had more tone and there was greater presence in his demeanour. “Is having good posture important enough for you to attend a workshop?” 
‘Not really.’ That meant: Not at all, thanks, I am ok! ​

I wasn’t surprised by the answer. Years of being a therapist for people with anything from back to neck to shoulder pain to headaches to knee pain and listening to their stories of either sitting all day, day after day, or standing all day, day after day had awakened me to the fact, that only enough persistent pain will make most of us want to change.
That is, change our attitude to have a close look at what we are doing, or not doing, to cause the agony.
It really is quite simple. Our bodies love movement, they are designed for it: muscles, bones, joints etc.
After a short time as ‘free running’ kids a life of restraint begins for most of us. As adults the periods of sitting are nearly endless, interrupted only by short strolls for life’s essentials. ​

Unless we make a point of getting up. And out. And move, walk, jump and stretch.
I believe working towards a healthier posture is not about perfection. It’s liberating though to rediscover a liberating attitude that frees up energy, brings with it a more positive state of mind and represents oneself as a confident human with great potential.
And it can be done by becoming aware of how we actually sit or stand; by using that fantastic body a little more and more often; by feeling good in ourselves, who we are and what we do.
We can always change and improve for the better, it’s never too late. 
Try the small, frequent, easy-to-do-things:
- getting up from our chair every 20 or 30 minutes alleviates muscle tiredness.
- stand up straight for five minutes at a time (e.g. against a wall while watching TV) help to change our habitual awareness of ‘what feels good’.
walk briskly and stretch any way for 15 minutes a day.
These are all manageable steps for a Feel-Good-Posture, even when we can’t get out of the house.
It’s not frightening when you think about taking one step at a time and repeating it rather than contemplating 1000s of steps with a goal that’s completely out of sight.
Instead remember the goal but focus on the journey.

Did you know: all the things we don’t do, like standing up and walking around etc. have only become habits because we have (NOT) done them for thousands of times.
I have great confidence that the young man will continue his exercise regime. When we feel good we look good and we see the good around us.
Time to look up and get up to stretch...let’s not wait until New Year’s day!