Mom always nagged you about having good posture, but only because slouching isn’t pretty. Standing up straight does make you look thinner, taller and more youthful. But, the benefits of good posture have more to do with health and wellness. Fortunately, good posture is something you can correct with proper exercise and the discipline to create better habits.
You can correct your posture by retraining your body through exercises specifically designed to strengthen the muscles you need to sit and stand up straight. Core or abdominal work is the most important exercise for supporting your spine, according to Dr. Glenn Kent, health psychologist and personal trainer at Jefferson University in Virginia. Dr. Kent advises patients to follow core exercises with work on your shoulders and chest, hips and then neck.
You aren’t born with poor posture; it’s just a bad habit that you can easily correct. If you can retrain your body for better posture, you’ll not only look better but you’ll feel better and prevent a whole host of health problems as you get older.
Charles Weller
Author