Posture Counts

Did you ever remember your beloved grandmother or aunt reminding you to sit up straight? Well, they were on to something. With the booming onslaught of marvelous technology, we are all drawn to smaller gadgets to get the same job done. Yesterday, I sent multiple emails from the comfort of my couch while using my smart phone, and I noticed my son was busily attempting to build a city on his tablet. It was in that moment I realized, we all fall prey to the poor posture bug.

They say statistically that people spend about 32 years of their life sitting (whoa!), and most of us are in chairs that are unsupportive. We spend the entire day hunched forward using our beloved techno-gadgetry. Now we have a rather big issue on our hands because our spines will literally try to fuse in that hunched-over position if we spend enough time there. So what is the solution? How do we keep ourselves looking tall and fabulous year after year?

First off, we should consider what good posture looks like. If you were to see someone from the side or profile, great posture would be when you could draw a straight line from their ear lobe, down to their shoulder, to the hip, the knee and finally the ankle. Facing this same fabulous person, you should see balanced ear lobes and their shoulders would be the same height.

Next, let’s take a look at our teeth for inspiration. You take preventative care of your pearly whites. Brushing, flossing and even seeing a professional to keep them sparkling clean (which makes sense because you will have those teeth for the rest of your life). I would love to see that same principle applied to our spine! I realize walking around with perfect posture all the time would be similar to never eating again after you’ve been to the dentist, so the solution has to be somewhere in between.

So, let’s go on a poor-posture-diet at various times of day. Take a break from the computer, and stretch out with the normal back movements. Bend down to touch your toes (or get as close as you comfortably can reach), lean back, lean over and twist gently side to side. Move your arms in circles (you know those crazy wind-mill things we did in gym class), look over your shoulders, roll your shoulders, wiggle and jump, if you are so inspired. The key for these periodic breaks is that you create a posture opposite of slumping. Do this for about two minutes three times per day (just like brushing your teeth…in fact, you could do most of this while you brush your teeth because let’s face it, we are multi-tasking geniuses at heart anyway).

Also, let’s remember a periodic check up is essential for your teeth (and your back). Chiropractors are your go-to doctors for a healthy back and body. They will keep you upright and will keep the slouch right out of your spine!