Be Proud!
A big component of poor posture is often self-esteem. According to Eisenstadt, "Poor posture carries an energy with it. It can read as a lack of self confidence or closed communication... by correcting posture, we also inadvertently heal issues emotionally connected to imbalance."
So hold in your core, roll your shoulders back, tell yourself some affirming words, and strut out into the world proudly! You'll be sure to feel happy, energized, and turn some heads while you're at it.
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Yoga
Yoga is a great way to maintain your posture. It targets various muscle groups and strengthens your body as a whole. Cobra and triangle poses are great ways to reverse that slouched posture you've adopted from sitting at your desk all day. Find a local yoga class, or take 10 minutes in the morning or evening to do a few quick stretches. (If you're really pressed for time, you can even do a little yoga at your desk.)
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Be Smart
We know all of you reading this article are already smart people, but it's time to get smart about your posture too! "If your job entails being seated for 10 hours a day, make sure to get into good habits of stretching, exercising and drinking enough water to balance out the tightness you get from being in one position for so long", says Eisenstadt. So, what's your day like? Honestly assess the positions your body is in all day long and make a plan for combating poor posture!
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Take Care of Your Feet
Are you constantly on your feet? Do they feel achy and tired at the end of the week? Craniosacral therapist Isabella Pilar suggests "rolling out your feet with a tennis ball in order to break up the fascia in your feet and leave them feeling stretched and energized". If you do a quick Google search of reflexology, each portion of your foot relates to a different organ or body part, so you can explore hitting the spots that feel right for you! Focus on the mid-outer ball of your foot for shoulder relief.
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Focus on Your Breath
With the stress of work, emails, kids, school, life, we sometimes forget to breathe. There are many yogic and meditation-based breath practices you can adopt, or you can check out this YouTube video Pilar recommends for some quick practical breath exercises. Once we feel more at peace and get that oxygen circulating to our brain, our bodies will loosen and our shoulders will relax.
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