Aches and Pains? Improve Your Posture

How often do you notice your posture? I am sitting at a desk for a bulk of my day and sometimes I experience pain in my neck and shoulders which usually causes a headache. It is then I realize how poor my posture was as I was sitting all day. The biggest example of poor posture is slouching. After sitting for hours at a time, I end up slouching quite often.

Importance of good posture

Having good posture reduces the strain placed on the joints, ligaments, and helps to evenly distribute our body weight. It helps reduce back pain which is a common issue for a majority of people.

Some damaging effects of poor posture include:

There are several negative effects of poor posture.  Some major ones are listed below.

• Bones are improperly aligned
• Ligaments, joints, and muscle are strained
• Compression of blood vessels and nerves
• Can cause fatigue
• Can lead to spine problems (discs)
• Can cause problems with major organs

Ways to improve posture

Sitting at a desk all day is one of the biggest causes of poor posture.  If this is the case for you, one way to help posture is by using an ergonomic chair and taking advantage of the lumbar support.  You can also stand up more often and stretch.

Strengthening your core muscles can also help improve your posture.  Yoga and some pilates exercises can also help your posture.

Overall, it helps to try to become more aware of your posture in your day to day activities.  Particularly while standing and sitting.  Try to keep your shoulders down (not hunched towards the ears) and pull your abs slightly in.  Your head should also not be jutting forward.

Focus on improving your posture to see if it helps relieve some of the minor aches and pains you may have been experiencing.

Drink one shake a day to help with weight loss. Buy Shakeology and try it for 30-days. Order on home direct for FREE shipping and two bonus gifts!