Better standing posture and a healthier spine comes from:
A flexible relaxed spine, possible at any age, with SmartBody’s Relaxercise Approach.
Knowing where to stand on your feet, as well as a simple movement lesson; which allows you to stand longer and feel better.
Learning healthy sitting habits which largely contributes to our standing health.
Keeping your back erect & strong, flexing from the hips when getting up/down from a chair..
Clues to some signs of good dynamic standing:
You have a youthful look, with ability to stand for long time periods without strain.
Turning while standing, starts with your head, shoulders and upper torso, Further movement comes from the feet and pelvis.
Any bending, carrying, lifting or physical work is done without any strain or discomfort, because you know how to keep your back erect, bending from your hips.
When you walk your pelvis and upper torso rotate reducing work in your legs, making it feel easier to walk and reducing wear and tear on your back, knees, hips and feet.
How we sit has a positive or negative consequence on our standing health.
- Think about what furniture you sit on and how you sit?
- This cumulative effect of less than ideal sitting wreaks havoc on our backs & necks leading to stiffness and discomfort.
- Add to that, a history of back injuries and degenerative spine problems; it’s no surprise that backs are a #1 orthopedic problem!
- How you stand has a direct impact to the ease or effort of walking.
- Standing habits also determine balance: research studies state if we tilt forward, it increases our fall risk.
How to change your
standing habits:
- Develop awareness of where you feel your body weight on your feet, then practice moving back and forward through your ankle joints to re-train your brain & body to stand back toward your heels.
- Develop awareness of where you feel your body weight on your feet, then practice moving back and forward through your ankle joints to re-train your brain & body to stand back toward your heels.
- Learning NOT to hold your upper torso tight or stiff relieves tension and discomfort in the low-back in spite of arthritis, disc or spinal stenosis problems.
- Having Sharon correct your “blind-spots” can accelerate initial improvements. When you initially make changes, it’s common that it won’t feel normal. With a little learning practice and patience, your body and brain will ‘reset’ to a more optimal norm.
Supporting Sources
de Groot Maartje H., Hann C. vander Jagt-Willems, Jos P.C.M. van Campen, Willem F. Lems, Jos H. Beijnen, Claudine J. C. Lamoth.
“A Flexed Posture in Elderly is Associated with Impairments in Postural Control during Walking.” Gait & Posture vol.39, Issue 2 (Feb 2014): 767-772.
Ball JM, P. Cagle, B.E. Johnson, C. Lucasey. B.P. Lukert. “Spinal Extension Exercises Prevent Natural Progression of Kyphosis.” Osteoporosis Int. 20(3) (2009 Mar): 481-9
BREATHING
ARM USE
SITTING
STANDING
