Follow These Tips For Better All-Around Posture

There are a few simple health rules that we know we should follow in order to stay healthy and strong. For example, we know we should eat nutritious meals, avoid junk food and processed food, and exercise on a regular basis in order to maintain good health.

It is also important to know that having good posture is right up there on the list of the most important wellness rules to live by for a life that is long and healthy. You may think that you have good posture already, but you may be surprised to learn how many people don't have the correct posture. Good posture relates not only to standing, but also to sitting, sleeping, and walking. As I learned from a post by the American Chiropractic Association, here are some helpful tips to keep posture good throughout the day, no matter what you are doing.

First, you may want to perform this simple test to see whether your posture is correct or not. Simply stand in front of a wall and have your back facing it, while the backs of your heels touch the bottom of the wall. Stand as you naturally would, and take note of which parts of your body are touching the wall without any effort. If your heels, hips, shoulder blades, and the back of your head are all touching the wall without any effort on your part, then you do indeed have great posture. However, if you need to adjust yourself or even strain yourself in order to accomodate for these positions, your posture can be improved.

When it comes to basic standing posture, be sure to place your weight primarily on the balls of your feet, and let your arms hang loosely at your sides. Remember to pull your shoulder blades backward if you ever notice that you are slouching forward. One more great tips is to make sure that your earlobes are in line with the tops of your shoulders.

As for sitting, do everything you can to make sure your feet are resting on some surface, whether it's the floor or a footrest. Avoid crossing your legs if you can, since this can cut off circulation to your feet. Also check to make sure that your knees are either below or at the level of your hips. 

When you go to sleep, try to rest on your side, which is the least stressful position for your spine. Follow these tips to attain better posture and your chiropractor will thank you for it!

Used under Creative Commons Licensing courtesy of Florent Chretien