Most people in society today have poor posture of their shoulders and torso. The reason for this is because of the amount of sitting we do – in the car, at work, on the couch. We spend so much time slouching and rounding our posture forward that it is wreaking havoc on the structural integrity of our body. Most people aren’t even aware that their posture is horrible, because to them it’s been normalized.
This poor posture of our upper body can cause all sorts of discomfort. Poor shoulder and upper back posture leads to poor posture of the neck and cervical spine, which can result in migraines, headaches, and neck aches. Poor posture can also lead to stifled breathing and a lack of energy. It can also do damage to the health of our shoulders.
In order to combat this breakdown of our posture, here are some preventative measures you can take to heal your broken posture.
1. Start Practicing Yoga
Yoga challenges the stability of your body and gradually strengthens proper posture. Doing yoga in the morning will get you feeling energized, relaxed, and sturdy in your posture.
2. Foam Roll Your Upper Back
The muscles of your upper back can get tight and filled with knots from sitting and being rounded forward all day, every day. By foam rolling your upper back you loosen up those muscles, which opens up your posture and improves your breathing. Try it like this.
3. Do Deep Stretches of Certain Muscles
Without stretching, our muscles get tight, restricted, and they will lose their range of motion, which is why our posture gets worse over time if we don’t address it. The best muscles to stretch to improve your posture are your hip flexors, pectoral muscles, latissimus dorsi, and your neck muscles. Deep stretches should be held for 1 to 2.5 minutes. Try these stretches.
4. Strengthen Certain Muscle Groups
Lastly, one of the best ways to improve your posture is to strengthen the muscles that are responsible for holding your good posture. These muscles are your mid-trapezius, rear deltoids, glutes, core muscles, and the front side of your neck. Try these exercises.
