“Sit up straight, keep your chin up, stop slouching” are something everyone has probably been told at some point in their lives – and with good reasons as well. Good posture is not just an annoying command from an etiquette scourge. There are more to good posture than just an appealing look. It is the cornerstone of a healthy lifestyle. When you maintain a good posture, it helps to improve your overall health and wellbeing. This article highlights the various health benefits that come with having a good posture.
But before anything else, what exactly defines a good posture anyway? Well, for starters, a good posture is also known as ‘neutral spine’. It is the proper alignment of the body when sitting or standing. When you have a proper posture, the muscles surrounding the spine are balanced and supporting the body equally, keeping your bones and joints in optimal alignment and thereby, lowering the amount of wear and tear on supportive structures. Proper positioning of the posture involves training yourself to hold your body against gravity with the least strain and tension on supportive structures, such as your muscles and ligaments. Being mindful of your posture and making corrections as needed can help you achieve proper posture and allow you to reap an abundance of health benefits.
Here are a few reasons why you should take steps to improve your posture:
1. Improves Breathing
Poor posture can place compression on and limit the effectiveness of the lungs. Slouching, in particular, can negatively affect the ability to breathe deeply and freely. It compresses and shortens the chest muscles and decreases the ability to breathe in fully. Studies have shown that sitting and standing straight gives space for the lungs to expand which improves the lung’s ability to breathe in oxygen by as much as 30%.
2. Better Digestion
Just as it is with the lungs, poor posture can also put compression on other vital organs, such as the stomach, liver, and intestines, disrupting the free flow of food and digestive juices. This increases the chances of developing certain digestive issues, including constipation and GERD. No medicine or supplements can help you with digestive issues if you have a bad and poor body posture.
3. Fewer Headaches
Studies have shown that people who slouch or have a forward head tend to experience more longer-lasting headaches than people with good posture. This is because poor posture, such as slouching, can create and increase unnecessary muscle tension that can contribute to tension headaches. Correcting our posture can help reduce muscle tension and improve headaches
4. Boosts self-confidence
Several studies have suggested that standing tall and straight not only makes a person look noticeable but also makes them look better, more confident and self-assured. Slumping and slouching can communicate a sad demeanour and a lack of self-esteem. So next time you go in for an interview or a presentation at work, practising good posture will give other people a good impression of you and probably help you to feel better too.
5. Increases Mood & Energy Levels
Studies have shown how our posture can affect our thoughts and emotions, and vice versa. One is more likely to be upright when happy and more likely to slouch when feeling sad or down. Changing your posture when you feel your mood sinking may give you a gentle boost in mood.
On the other hand, when we slouch, we put a strain on our muscles and make them fatigue faster. Good posture saves energy as our muscles are being used efficiently. When our bones and joints are in proper alignment, it allows the muscles to be used as intended, resulting in less fatigue and more energy.
6. Enhances Concentration
Having good posture improves oxygen flow and can positively affect the brain. Good posture helps improve oxygen circulation which provides the neurons in the brains with essential nutrients. This nurturing of the neurons can help keep you sharp, thereby improving your concentration
7. Greater Function As You Age
Our body posture affects how our body ages. Constantly standing and sitting in bad posture can put stress on connective tissues, especially at the joints which can make you feel stiff and achy as you age. Maintaining proper posture always can help you keep mobile and active as you get older and make you look younger as well!
8. Relieves Back Pain
Sitting or standing in a slouched position for an extended amount of time can put great stress on the lower back, specifically the posterior structures of the spine, including the intervertebral discs, facet joints, ligaments, and muscles. This can lead to extreme back pain which can disrupt the quality of life. Poor posture can also inflame arthritis and cause abnormal wear and tear of the joints. Practising good posture help utilise your muscles in the way they were designed, putting less strain and pressure on your joints thereby reducing joint and back pain. Good posture is also good for prevent any ill effects of arthritis or even curbing the development of it.
Supporting and maintaining a good and healthy posture may be harder than you think, especially when you lack the nutrients and minerals needed to support positive skeletal or muscle health in the first place. That is why Preserva Wellness has come up with wide arrays of Skeletal Health-Boosting Products, unique and effective natural formula, enriched with the goodness of potent Ayurvedic ingredients to help enhance bone, joints, nerves and muscles health and also in reducing symptoms of Arthritis, Sciatica, Ostoeoperosis, to name a few. The products range from delightful juices to pure Ayurvedic capsules to healthy natural oils, all made from natural ingredients that are known for their potent anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving properties.
Bottomline
With lockdown back in motion, you might find yourself slouching or drooping down more often than usual and wonder where all the backaches and digestive issues are coming from. Blame it on your bad body posture, which most of us are guilty of having. But this does not make it acceptable to keep on with bad posture as it can do more harm to your health in the long run. Keep in mind all the amazing health benefits of having a good posture (as mentioned above) and do every little bit you can in maintaining a healthy and decent posture whwerever you are and whenever you can.