Self-assess your posture

About your posture…

Are your muscular issues related to your posture? It's time to change the way you look and feel. Slumping your shoulders doesn't just make you resemble one of our long-extinct ancestors—if you don’t stand up straight, no amount of exercise will give you the hot bod you’re after. Here’s why:

Poor posture takes a serious toll on your body over time, affecting your spine, shoulders, hips, and knees. It can cause a cascade of structural flaws, including:

• Back and Joint Pain: Poor posture places excessive stress on your spine and joints, leading to chronic pain and discomfort.

• Reduced Flexibility: Tight muscles and shortened tendons due to poor posture can limit your range of motion, making daily activities more difficult.

• Compromised Muscles: Inefficient posture can lead to muscle imbalances, where some muscles become overactive and others underactive, hindering your body's ability to function optimally.

• Digestive Issues: Slouching can compress your abdominal organs, leading to digestive problems like acid reflux and constipation.

• Respiratory Problems: Poor posture can restrict your lung capacity, making it harder to breathe and reducing the amount of oxygen your body takes in.

• Headaches: Forward head posture, where your head juts forward, can cause tension headaches and even migraines.

• Circulatory Issues: Prolonged sitting or standing in poor postures can impede blood flow, leading to issues like varicose veins and swollen feet.

• Fatigue: The extra effort required to maintain a poor posture can lead to increased muscle tension and fatigue, making you feel tired more quickly.

• Limited Strength and Fat Gain: All these issues limit your ability to burn fat and build strength, making your fitness journey more challenging.

But you can head off all these problems by taking this simple self-assessment:

Self-assess your posture

Wear something form-fitting and take two full-body photos—one from the front, one from the side. Relax your muscles and stand in your ‘default’ position, feet hip-width apart. Do not try and stand in a good posture yet! You need to see your current posture in all its glory.

1. Look at your ear. If it’s in front of the midpoint of your shoulder, your head is too far forward, a condition known as forward head posture.

2. Can you see your shoulder blade? That means your back is too rounded, indicating kyphosis or a hunchback posture.

3. If your hips tilt forward and you have a belly (even if you don’t have an ounce of fat on your body) and your lower spine is arched significantly, this means you have an anterior pelvic tilt.

4. Look at your shoulders. One shouldn’t appear higher than the other, as this can indicate scoliosis or uneven muscle development.

5. Check out your kneecaps. Do they point inward, causing your knees to touch when your legs are straightened? This can lead to knee pain and instability.

6. See if you’re duck-footed. Your toes will point outward more than 10 degrees, which can cause issues with your knees and hips.

By identifying these issues, you can take the first step towards improving your posture and reaping the benefits of a stronger, healthier body.

Gestalt Movement & Myotherapy

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