Movement Is The Key To Great Posture
“Stand up straight!” “Throw those shoulders back!”
It’s fair to assume that everyone has heard these suggestions when trying to correct their posture.
Is that really the best thing to do, though?
We discussed more with movement expert, Coach Jeremy Hirschkorn of Jett Movement Academy to learn more about how holding ‘good posture’ might actually be bad for our health.
Good Versus Bad Posture
When we talk about posture, we need to understand that gravity is the force working against our skeletal muscles (which are the ones that keep us upright and moving).
To say that there is good posture and bad posture is only relative to the current position your body is in. A good posture sitting at a desk will differ from a good posture riding a bike. Both are sitting positions, but very different muscles are being used.
According to Coach Hirschkorn, The only bad posture is the one you hold for too long. When you sustain a position for a continued amount of time, gravity is working against you.
Keep Moving
Movement is the key to good posture. If we spend too much time in one position, our ability to move declines over time. Contrary to popular thoughts, stiffness and rigidity in the body are not part of the normal aging process. Immobility is what causes these symptoms over time.
Paying attention to increasing movement early on in life, and being consistent, can decrease pain in the joints and muscles that comes from inactivity.
Today, younger folks spend hours looking downwards at their cell phones. This frozen stance can cause neck pain, headaches, jaw pain, even breathing troubles (hint, hint, if you are reading this on your phone, take a breather and look up!).
The simplest and most effective thing you can do for your posture is to vary the position you hold your body in. Even standing upright with good posture for long periods of time can negatively influence your body’s ability to move. You want to encourage frequent spinal movement.
Get Up
Unfortunately, in today’s reality, many of us are sitting at computers for most of the day. Alternatively, by using a sit-to-stand desk, you can vary the positions you are in frequently.
Coach Hirschkorn recommends extending the hip flexor muscles every 30 minutes. This can be as simple as moving your hips from side to side, or up and down. Another tip is to engage in a full body stretch every hour. Reaching your hands up to the ceiling while standing on your toes is a great way to stretch out and elongate the spine.
Deep Breathing
Coach Hirschkorn also recommends practicing deep breathing to improve your posture. Taking long, deep breaths inward will expand your lungs and stretch out your ribcage. The increase in oxygen improves blood flow to the tissues surrounding the ribs and torso, therefore ultimately strengthening the muscles to hold your body up against gravity.
So the next time someone tells you to ‘stand up straight,’ politely inform them that it’s actually more beneficial to keep moving your body in the long run. Focus on regular activity, changing positions, and deep breathing throughout the day to improve your posture.
-Amanda Lundberg, BSN, RN
Coach Jeremy Hirschkorn
Coach Jeremy Hirschkorn is a leader in human body movement theory. He began his athletic training journey coaching baseball for 14 years. Throughout his experience, Coach Hirschkorn noticed that his athletes were focusing on sport-specific skills rather than basics in body mechanics.
He launched into the pursuit of knowledge to master how the human body functions best with varying activities. He now owns Jett Movement Academy, where he trains athletes in all walks of life, and continues to study and specialize in human movement daily.
