Why Posture Is Important For Your Physical and Mental Health
Do you slouch often? Crouch over the computer daily? Walk with your head down? Yup, we all do. But instead of being just a bad habit, poor posture has been proven to create more health issues than most even realize. Don't worry, with some simple adjustments you can avoid these health defects! Firstly, here is what poor posture does to your health (from the Huffington Post):
Body Language Effects You Internally
A research study showed that sitting up with good posture can function as a coping mechanism against stress. In the study, people who were told to sit upright had more positive recall, while those who slumped were more biased towards negative words. In fact, social psychologist Amy Cuddy explains that posture affects the body's levels of cortisol – the stress hormone. Your body may produce more cortisol if in a slouched posture – where your shoulders hunch over, your neck stiffens, and you generally remain in a tense state.
Posture Can Dictate Your Thoughts
Sure, our thoughts dictate our emotions, and our emotions dictate our actions. But you know what? It can happen the reverse way as well. According to psychologist Erik Peper, “The moment you move into a defensive body position, it's harder for you to do abstract problem solving or think of new, creative options”. To back this up, a study at Ohio State University and Autonomous University of Madrid examined the relationship between metacognition (how we think about our thoughts and beliefs) and body posture. They found that the participants who were sitting in a “confident” upright posture truly felt more confident about themselves.
Some Are Pre-Disposed To Poor Posture
A medical research found that posture is similar to other genetic and environment predispositions, “nature vs. nuture”. They found a correlation between posture and personality type. Personality types are also thought to be molded by a mix nature and nuture. Extroverted types were more likely to have “ideal” posture, due to their energy, and upright, “puffed up” posture. Introverted types are likely to suffer from poor posture, as they are more likely to tense their muscles and restrain themselves.
How To Remedy Poor Posture
Proper posture releases tension that often happens in unnecessary areas with improper posture. It also allows healthy blood flow and a steady breath flow. In order to achieve better posture, one must first simply be aware of their bad posture. Also, don't sit so straight up that your back is flat. Maintain your spine's natural curve, while allowing your posture to roll your shoulders back. Stretching and massaging any back tension does wonders to your posture. Also, light strength building exercises can improve your back as well. Lastly, improve your mood! Relax, release stress by meditating, getting more sleep, eating healthier, and being more positive.
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