That rounded posture above on the left? The most common posture in America. it is a result of many different things; prolonged sitting, driving, staring at a phone, tablet or computer screen, lifting heavy objects, etc. It is activities/habits that are done on a daily basis that cause us to have that rounded posture. We are all guilty of it. BUT, the good news is.. your muscles can be retrained to correct posture.
Here are a few tips to improve your posture over time:
1. Bring awareness to your posture, especially while sitting. It helps to write sticky notes and leave them at your computer screen, dashboard, or something you walk by daily.
- An example to write on it is "Take a deep breath and lower your shoulders." Write what works for you!
2. incorporate chest opening stretches as part of your daily routine. Twice daily for 1 minute at a time will help. Do it right when you wake up and before you go to bed.
- Here's a demonstration of a chest opening stretch by our massage therapist, Christie Roth.
- Using a door frame; Stand straight in front it, place one hand on either side of the frame, just above head height. Moving one foot forward gently lunge past the door frame and hold for 30 seconds, switch legs and repeat.
3. Incorporate monthly massage into your routine. You knew we were going there, right? We cannot stress it ENOUGH. Massage is so beneficial for our overall health and well-being, and it helps improve posture and flexibility if done regularly. If you've been noticing your posture isn't as flattering as it was in the past, it's time to schedule a massage, get that chest opened up again, and retrain your muscles back to that great posture you once had.
Thanks for reading! We hope to see you soon!