A few weeks ago I wrote a blog about posture. Why is posture
important? Proper posture can eliminate
lower back pain, neck pain and reduce risk of carpel tunnel syndrome. Proper posture also gives you a feeling of
self-assurance and people see you as healthy and
powerful!
Last time I focused on shoulder blade squeezes to improve your rhomboid strength. Now that you are stronger in your upper back, try these 3 strategies to further improve your posture:
- Chest lifts - Sitting in a chair, relax your shoulders (down), slowly inhale and gently lift your chest 1-2 inches, hold this position through the exhale and for 5 more breaths.
- Backward resistance with neck- Seated or standing place your hands behind your head and interlock your fingers so that your head is resting in your palms. Gently press your palms forward simultaneously pressing the head against the pressure so that there is a contraction in the back of your neck, hold this for 5-10 seconds and perform 10-20 daily. Remember to also engage your front neck muscles during this exercise by pulling your chin down.
- Build core strength- Core strength helps provide stability in both the lower back and abdominal regions of the body, which is critical in improving your posture! This can be done with planks, crunches, kneeling supermans/quadripeds, and bridges.
Working on your posture just 5-10 minutes a day will yield results and increase your awareness of how your carry yourself through the day.
Joey Smith
Certified Personal Trainer
734.747.0123
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