fit tips
Whether we are standing , seated , or lying , our posture has to do with how our limbs are positioned compared to the rest of the body .
IDEAL POSTURE
Is there such thing as an ideal posture ? That ’ s really a tough question . I want to say “ yes ,” but , it ’ s different for each person . I really like the concept that is presented in the ACE definition of posture . If we consider that posture is the position where all of the muscles , joints , and nerves are aligned in a way that puts the least amount of stress on our system and allows for everything to function optimally , then we have to consider what that means based on the inherent nature of our individual systems . Somewhere along the line , someone decided that everyone should have their ankle , knee , hip , shoulder , and ear in line with each other . That ’ s what has been labeled as “ good ” posture . Anything that falls outside of those guidelines has been labeled as “ bad ” posture ( or , at least , not good posture ). Can someone have an alignment outside of those guidelines and be in a position where all of his or her muscles , joints , and nerves function optimally ? I would argue that there can be those circumstances . What about the person who is forcing that “ ideal ” position and creating a lot of tension or stress on his or her body ? Does that make it a “ good ” thing ? That ’ s certainly something to think about ! What if my head is a little forward ? What if my shoulders are a little forward ? Is that bad ? These are all great questions and worth investigating . There are so many potential combinations of alignments to address ; there ’ s no way I can even think of all of them , not to mention address them all here .
ASSESSING YOUR POSTURE
One of the things I can address is if you feel that there is excess tension in your body – perhaps in your neck , shoulder , upper back – then maybe you aren ’ t in your ideal posture for you . Some people might say that if you ’ re not in your ideal posture , it ’ s because one muscle is weak and another muscle is tight . They promote stretching the tight muscle and strengthening the weak muscle . This sounds great in theory , but it doesn ’ t always work ( in my professional experience , it doesn ’ t usually work ). Our bodies are more complicated than that .
In my last article , I referred to the brain as the orchestra conductor of our body . It ’ s deciding what ’ s performing at different volumes based on the feedback it ’ s getting . There are so many factors to consider because feedback from the muscular system is only part of the story . Some people end up having a forward head position because of poor eyesight , which has nothing to do with a muscular issue . Their body adapts to lack of visual stimulus by trying to get the eyes closer to the object they ’ re attempting to view . You could train your muscles all you want , but until the reason for the issue is addressed , the adaptation of your body will continue . If we think of our bodies as a system , then the input we give to the system determines the system ’ s output . In other words , the conductor will direct the orchestra accordingly .
I ’ m going to refer to two different types of posture : there ’ s stress-free posture and stress-full posture . The short-term ramifications of stress-full posture are fairly obvious , such as the sensation of tight muscles , knots , feeling like you can ’ t stand up straight , etc . The long-term ramifications of stress-full posture are harder to see , as they take a while to show up , mostly masked by other issues . For example , stress-full postures can lead to joint dysfunction , leading to joint pain and possibly arthritis . Chronic joint dysfunction can lead to hormonal changes ( increased levels of stress hormones ) due to an inflammatory response in the body . High inflammatory markers have been linked to serious medical problems such as heart disease , diabetes , and chronic fatigue .
ADDRESSING YOUR POSTURE
So , if you think you aren ’ t in your ideal posture , what do you do about it ? The first thing I can recommend is to find some professional help . Make sure you ’ ve had your yearly physical exam with your physician to rule out any medical issues that might contribute to your posture . If you ’ re in severe discomfort , seek out medical attention and get to a physical therapist . For some people , massage therapy really helps . For others , they need to stimulate their muscles a little differently . A wellbalanced approach to strength training can be a significant help toward a stress-free posture ; ask a trainer if you need help putting that together . You can also schedule a consultation with a Muscle Activation Specialist to analyze the efficiency of your muscular system and see if you could use a
little help in creating a stress-less posture . There ’ s an approach to improving alignment and posture called the Gokhale Method , and we have offered seminars and classes here at HAC . They address standing , sitting , and lying postures and introduce exercises to help you attain ( and remain in ) the most efficient position for you .
The biggest challenge to improving alignment and posture is the fact that there isn ’ t a one-size-fits-all approach . I would be glad to talk to you about any concerns you have over your posture , alignment , or why you haven ’ t yet achieved the posture or alignment you think you should be able to . Thanks for reading , and keep moving !
enhance magazine | NOVEMBER 2017 19