In my last blog I touched on how maintaining a correct posture can prevent back pain. However, there are many other reasons why posture is important and I have listed some of them below.
- Joseph Pilates coined the phrase, “a long spine is a strong spine”. Gravity is not kind to us as we age. The cushions between each vertebra compress over time causing a loss in height. Older people often display a hunched or stooped appearance because of this, which can also be related to osteoporosis. Good posture will help to elongate the spine which is why we do so many exercises to keep the spine long and strong.
- Good posture will increase your metabolism as it gives space for your digestive system to work effectively avoiding bloating and constipation.
- In the same way, it will increase lung capacity as your chest has more room to expand increasing the amount of oxygen that goes to the brain and enhancing your mental agility.
- Better posture allows all the organs in the body to function more effectively which can help the lymphatic and immune systems. In 1918 Joseph Pilates was interned in a prison camp on the Isle of Man where he rehabilitated wounded soldiers who had been captured during the First World War. At the same time, Spanish Flu was raging across the world. The story goes, that none of the prisoners who did Pilates’ exercises succumbed to the disease while the rest of the camp suffered.
- Better posture improves balance. If you stand and move correctly, you are less likely to trip and fall. You will also be less prone to sports injuries like pulled tendons and sore knees. When you have injured one part of the body, other joints and muscles take the strain which can often cause further injuries which is why it is so important to keep your body balanced.
- There is another knock-on effect if your body is out of alignment. It will lead to some muscles overworking and becoming inflamed, resulting in the nervous system having to work twice as hard and leaving you exhausted. Better posture can help to boost energy.
- Good posture can help to alleviate headaches and migraines. If your head and spine are out of alignment then the nerves in the neck will be pinched and no amount of paracetamol will help.
- If you stand better you will feel better. The pathway between your brain and your body will effectively deliver and receive messages to improve your confidence and avoid feelings of anxiety and insecurity.
- And finally, one tip to improve posture. Try to avoid putting your hands in your coat pockets to keep them warm, so buy yourself a pair of gloves!!
If you can change one thing in your life, change your posture.
