Did you know that back problems affect more than 80% of Americans at some point in their lives?
Since poor posture is a significant culprit in back issues, learning how to improve your posture can be essential to keeping your spine healthy. If that interests you, continue to read to figure out how to do so.
Save Heels for a Big Night Out
Heels might be fashionable, but they’re not good for your posture and health.
Stilletos and pumps make you over-arch your back (as they thrust the base of your spine forward). That modifies how your backbone lines up, putting pressure on nerves and leading to back pain.
Also, sky-high shoes put extra weight on your knees, which is a good reason not to use them daily. In the end, if you want to achieve better posture, it’s best to stick to a chunky, lower heel.
Exercise and Tone Your Abs
Too many kilos around your belly puts extra stress on your back. In contrast, strong muscles can help support your spine.
So, consider a well-designed workout plan to maintain your spine and body in tip-top shape. You can start by trying non-impact exercises like tai chi.
Don’t Slump at Your Desk
It’s comfy to lean back and swivel or even slouch a bit. But this is key to a bad posture.
Instead, place a lumbar cushion or a tiny, rolled-up towel behind your mid-back and sit back in your chair. This extra care will help protect the natural curve in your spine.
Finally, bend your knees (keeping them slightly higher or at the same height as your hips) and put your feet flat on the ground.
Practice Yoga
Yoga poses tend to emphasize alignment correction of shoulders, wrists, arms, and hands. So, practicing yoga might be what you need to learn how to improve your posture.
Think about it: yoga poses are adjusted to help people achieve the ideal alignment. When individuals hold poses properly and for longer periods, they’re prone to see an improvement in their posture over time.
Interestingly, even outside yoga studios, yogis maintain the habit of proper alignment and are more prone to fix their slouch at home or in the office.
Maintain a Healthy Weight
Weight gain can impact your posture, making you bend your joints and spine in uncommon ways to accommodate the added weight.
After a while, excess weight can lead to poor posture, including a protruding belly, stooped shoulders, hips that rotate out of alignment, and a bent spine. The good news is that your posture should improve after weight loss.
In the end, it might be worth following a healthy diet to avoid dealing with this health problem.
Improve Your Posture
There are many reasons to improve your posture, including the prevention of chronic pain, fewer headaches, and increased energy levels.
Indeed, with the right shoes, daily exercise, and yoga practice, you’ll be taking the right steps to achieve back health and better posture.
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