| Have you ever caught your reflection in a window or | | | | shrunk. It is because your spinal curves have become |
| mirror and saw that your head leads the way - | | | | more exaggerated. In other words, your posture has |
| doesn't sit directly over your shoulders? Or noticed | | | | become worse. Once you learn the keys to |
| that your shoulders are too rounded and your upper | | | | improving your posture, you'll find you will re-gain |
| back is slumped forward? These are common | | | | most, if not all, of that 'lost' height. |
| postural problems that affect millions of Americans. | | | | A Better Look And Fit For Your Clothes |
| Your posture, the way you carry yourself, is | | | | So many people spend lots of money on their |
| important for a variety of reasons - a few of which | | | | clothes every year. But if your posture is bad, your |
| may surprise you. Here's 5 to consider. | | | | clothes will not fit you correctly, no matter how |
| Look 10 Years Younger | | | | much you spend on them. If your head hangs too far |
| A study done in Louisville, Kentucky, showed how | | | | forward from your shoulders or your upper back is |
| posture affects perceptions of age and beauty. Two | | | | slumped, your mid-section becomes wider than it |
| women, both five foot four, one weighing 105 | | | | really is and your belly sticks forward way more than |
| pounds and the other 125, were asked to put on | | | | it should. Improve your posture and your clothes will |
| leotards and cover their faces. Side-view pictures | | | | automatically look better and fit you better. |
| were taken of each woman with normal and slumping | | | | Improve Your Athletic Performance |
| posture. Then sixty people were asked to look at | | | | When you work out or play sports, poor posture |
| the pictures and rate the women's appearances. | | | | increases the chance that you will injure your neck, |
| When the women stood up straight, viewers | | | | shoulder, upper back, lower back, hips, and knees. |
| consistently described them as younger and more | | | | Good posture reduces injuries, muscle strain and |
| attractive. In fact, the upright 125 pound woman was | | | | aches, and helps you move more easily, gracefully, |
| rated more favorably than the slumping 105 pound | | | | and powerfully; and gives your lungs more room so |
| woman. | | | | you have a greater breathing capacity. In fact, a |
| Nothing ages you faster than a shrinking, stooped | | | | slumping posture can decrease lung capacity by as |
| posture. A strong, straight spine portrays youth and | | | | much as 30%. |
| vigor. Slumping forward decreases your chest | | | | Prevent Back & Neck Pain |
| measurement, causes rounded and narrow shoulders, | | | | This is the most important benefit to improving |
| and forces your belly to stick out more. | | | | posture. Good posture can prevent a lifetime of |
| Look 10 Pounds Thinner | | | | annoying and painful back problems. Poor posture is |
| Simply by standing straighter, you will instantly slim | | | | the leading cause of back and neck pain. |
| your waistline by an inch or more. When the upper | | | | The spine, or backbone, is the main supporting |
| back slumps forward, it presses the rib cage down | | | | structure of the entire body. It is composed of |
| on the abdominal organs. The belly protrudes, making | | | | twenty-four interlocking bones called vertebrae, |
| the waistline appear larger than it really is. Every | | | | which are stacked one upon the other. In between |
| second you stand or sit with your rib cage slumping | | | | the vertebrae are disks, which are meant to provide |
| forward, you are weakening your abdominal muscles | | | | shock absorption and cushioning. This is a delicate, |
| as well as back muscles. | | | | finely balanced structure that can easily be injured. |
| Radiate Confidence | | | | When posture is poor, uneven pressures are placed |
| Psychological studies have shown that good posture | | | | along the spine and the joints no longer fit together |
| exudes health, vitality, and confidence, while slouching | | | | the way they are supposed to. Everyday activities |
| signals insecurity, weakness, and self-doubt. | | | | can result in friction, pain, irritation and excessive |
| Consciously or not, we tell the world a lot about our | | | | wear and tear, especially in the lower, mid and upper |
| mental and emotional state by the way we stand, | | | | back as well as neck. |
| sit, and move. In fact, posture is one of the first | | | | Poor posture also forces some muscles to work |
| three things people notice about each other (the | | | | excessively hard while others don't have to work at |
| other two are hair and eyes). | | | | all. They just get weaker and weaker, setting up a |
| Improving your posture can help you build | | | | vicious cycle of discomfort and pain. Gradually, the |
| self-esteem, interview well for jobs, improve your | | | | muscles lose their ability to support the body |
| work performance, particularly in sales or business, | | | | correctly, and posture grows even worse. |
| and convey an air of self-respect. | | | | Knowing the basics of good posture can make the |
| Regain Lost Height | | | | difference between a healthy back and an aching |
| If you've ever been told by a nurse at your doctor's | | | | one. When properly aligned, your body moves with |
| office that you are an inch or two shorter than you | | | | ease and comfort. The muscles in the front and back |
| were in previous years, it is NOT because you've | | | | of your body work together harmoniously. |