• At home: Holding the baby on one hip, folding endless loads of laundry, standing at a counter for long periods of time when cooking -- all these bring on muscle tension and can rotate our bodies in awkward positions, putting our posture out of whack.
• While asleep: Sleeping on your stomach is a no-no, causing neck and low back strain. Similarly, sleeping without proper support for your neck and hips can rotate your pelvis during the night, making it nearly impossible to stand properly once you wake up.
Take a break
While it's best to avoid the above pitfalls completely, Emmett says taking a 30-second break a few times a day can help significantly.
"Counter" breaks involve doing an exercise counter to the activity you're currently doing. "Stand up, bring your head back, bring your arms back, work the muscles of the back," Emmett says. "All of a sudden everything opens up and the concentration returns."
Breathe right
This is something we can learn from our kids. "All kids belly breathe," Emmett says. "Once you breathe through the belly as opposed to the chest, it relaxes everything and the low back, neck and shoulders release."
Create a posture program
There are many ways to improve your posture. Ask your doctor about appropriate exercises. You can also find exercises at sites like the Canadian Fitness and Lifestyle Research Institute.
If you need more help, a chiropractor can assess your posture, work with you in the clinic, assign exercises to do at home and track your progress over time. To find a chiropractor near you visit the website of the Canadian Chiropractic Association.
Improving your posture makes you feel better. Feeling good makes you carry yourself well. This positive cycle makes working on your body posture one of the best steps you can take to look and feel better, both immediately and for the long term.
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