What is good posture, and how do I get it?

I want to talk about posture today.

I was inspired to discuss posture today after a client mentioned they'd been trying to improve theirs.

With my dance background, people often comment on my posture or ask about my experience and advice with regards to posture.

There are so many misconceptions about what makes good posture!

The spine is robust, strong, built to move in multiple directions, absorb forces, protect nerves. 

It's hardier than we sometimes think.

As well as that, there is a misconception that a stiff upright posture is the healthiest posture there is.

Let's reconsider this. 

I'm going to speak from a dancer's point of view.

We have this idea that a ballet dancer is stiff and rigid, but have you ever held your spine stiff and rigid and upright and then tried to move your arms and legs with freedom and grace?

Let alone try to maintain balance...

You just can't do it.

The spine is designed to shift and adapt, to allow counterweight in the positioning of our limbs.

When it comes to spinal position, it's not a sin to slouch for a while if that eases your pain, it's not a sin to go into rediculous over extension for the sake of an aesthetic pose!

Prolonged maintenance of a lot of postures will cause pain; too much sitting, too much stanging, too much lying down, too much side bending.

One of the keys to a healthy spine (and a healthy body) is movement.

When it comes to sitting, standing and walking, a neutral spine is dynamic and should be relaxed yet supported.

The best visuals I can offer when it comes to considering a mindful posture are

1. Imagine your spine outside of your body as though it has been hungfrom the occiput (the base of your skull) from the ceiling.

In this position it's going to remain relatively upright, but you can imagine the a breeze might blow it around a little causing gentle movements.

2. Imagine your spine as though it were floating supported in a pool of water.

Again, it's going to remain relatively upright but might be swayed by slight currents in the water. 

It's held, gently, supported, but still pliable and moveable.

Ironically, when we allow gentle movement and freedom in our spine, this is where we find the greatest potential for strength and ability to balance, because it allows our body to use proprioception!

Proprioception: (thanks to Google AI for this definition)

Proprioception is the body's unconscious ability to sense it's own position, movement, and force in space, often called our "sixth sense". It works by gathering information from specialized receptors in muscles, joints, tendons, and skin and sending it to the brain to help us maintain balance, control posture, and coordinate movements without always needing to see our body. 

If you would like to discuss your posture, work on your posture, have me help you with your posture, then please make an appointment for either a massage or a stretch/conditioning 1:1.