The Benefits of Good Posture

As children most of us were told to sit up straight and mind our posture, and we may even say it to our own children. Many people see good posture as just a matter of polite body language, but never consider that there are a plethora of significant health benefits to straightening your back while sitting and standing.

One such benefit is promoting strong muscle functioning. Your muscles are attached to your bones and therefore rely on correct skeletal alignment in order to work at optimal capacity. Misaligned bones tug on your muscles, which can result in them lengthening or shortening more than is natural.

Over time this may cause chronic neck or back pain, which is hard to remedy and makes having good posture even more uncomfortable than it may already be initially. When your bones (particularly those of your spine up into your skull) are correctly oriented, you’re unconsciously strengthening your muscles which allows you ease of mobility and more comfort in general as you go about your day.

Sitting and standing up straight also greatly improves your circulation, allowing your body to receive more oxygen and the essential nutrients that are vital to proper biological functioning. Slouching prevents smooth blood flow throughout the body, thereby blocking the uptake of these important elements. Further to that your lung capacity greatly increases with good posture, which promotes better circulation as well. On top of that, when you’re able to breathe more deeply your nervous system will respond and help you to feel more relaxed.

Incredibly, watching your posture can even promote a healthy brain and increase your energy levels. Because your improved circulation and oxygen intake will allow your body to efficiently use the nutrients it’s provided with, you’ll find yourself feeling more sprightly and far less fatigued. This translates to your brain, too. The more blood flow you get to your brain, the sharper you’ll be. This includes a significant mood boost.

As we get older and our joints, muscles and bones experience more wear and tear, good posture can be hard to develop if we don’t already have it. When you initially begin trying to improve your posture it may be uncomfortable, but like most things this will improve over time if you pay mind to it consistently. Engaging in activities such as yoga, meditation and even breathing exercises can help you to do so while providing you with the added benefit of being mindful of what’s happening in your body. Try to bring your attention to your posture as much as you can and watch how your body responds – you’ll likely find that your overall comfort in your body has been enhanced.