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Back in August last year I wrote a post on posture, essentially saying that simply changing you posture could give you an instant makeover.
As I walked around a town I was vacationing in a couple of weeks ago I couldn’t help but wonder what has happened to America? I should probably call my dad and a few people of his generation first, but the image I have of kids growing up in the 40’s and 50’s is a classroom with the strict teacher who insists on her students having perfect penmanship and even more importantly, perfect posture.
What has happened to this proud country that we have now become a nation of slouchers? and it’s not just the kids these days either; it’s my generation and even my dad’s generation.
No wonder obesity levels are rocketing upward in this country. Have you ever tried motivating yourself when you’re slouched over? It’s hard! But straighten that back, lift that head, fill that chest up with oxygen and a wonderful thing happens: Instant Change!
Suddenly you’re filled with energy, motivation, determination.
There are numerous factors that go into our overall health. Nutrition and the regional availability of healthful food is a topic one could write volumes of books about; exercise, REGULAR exercise is another; as is sleep; but the spark to change has to start from within. The desire has to be internal and quite honestly, I can’t imagine that there is much desire to motivate, much spark, when we are in a slouched position.
At one point, while sitting on a wall and having an ice cream with Brooke, I watched the crowds walk by. To my dismay, out of 30 people that walked by us at one point, not one, NOT ONE, was standing proud, head held high. In fact, some appeared to have entered into a perma-slouch, with their heads bent forward at the shoulders and craned up at the top of the neck. How can anyone expect to be active walking through life like that?
Now granted, some people have medical conditions that they were born with – this post is not about those people. This post is about the young moms and dads I see at my daughters’ school when I go to pick them up, almost all of whom have lousy, I mean absolutely lousy posture. This post is about the kids who slouch in front of a screen for hours a day.
I don’t know what the answer is, but my theory is that part of why we are seeing more and more overweight kids is that we’re not reminding them to sit up and stand up straight. It’s hard, I know, especially if you haven’t done it in a long time for long periods of time, but I wonder – I wonder what would happen if teachers re-introduced the concept of sitting up straight in class, would we see a change in our kids? Every time I’ve been in my daughters’ school on PTO business, I make a point of walking by my kids’ classes just to peek in, and you know what? these kids are doing their work or reading with their heads on their desks, sprawled out, their bodies like jello. I have a hard time believing that one feels motivated when one is essentially lounging.
Posture, for most of us, is much like how we choose to eat. Going on a diet really doesn’t do a lot for you long term. Changing the way you eat can change your life. Posture is the same. Good posture needs to be a life-style change, a long-term choice.
And I am betting that if you really start to live with your head held up, your shoulders back and your back straight, you’re gonna see an instant change. You’ll increase the volume of your lungs, which will increase the amount of oxygen you take in, which will give you more energy, which may spark some motivation, which just might get you off the couch or away from the desk for a nice, brisk walk (or even better a run!).
How’s your posture?
I have lousy posture. And you’re so right.. it’s hard to correct. It’s much easier to slip back into lounge mode. Thanks for the reminder!!!
I have to constantly remind myself of this every day. We are becoming a nation of sitters working on computer 8-12hrs a day. I wish that work places would be more open to flexible workstations. I have a stability ball in my office that I need to sit more on.
Great post Luau! This is a battle I’m constantly fighting with myself. As I get older I find it is pain that reminds me to fix my posture unfortunately. I get that lower-back and neck ache and say to myself “sit-up straight! Engage your core! Lift that head up!” It really does help!
Randomly enough I’ve been trying so hard to rehab my slouching habit. Thanks for this post, just another reminder to keep at it!
My father was constantly on about sitting up straight, don’t slouch, etc. There are way too many young people that carry themselves with rounded shoulders. I really don’t get that? It’s so important for any sport as well as as we get older to maintain a straight, healthy posture.
Also, it seems that kids who grow faster than their classmates are self conscious of the fact that they are taller than others. They seem to try to shrink themselves by slouching.
Running is definitely benefited by the alignment of shoulders to hips over stride.
The amazing thing is that I’m back at physical therapy this summer. The doctor thought my arm was stiffening again after the Rotator Cuff surgery a year and a half ago. When I got to PT, I was told that the therapist would bet her bottom dollar that the pain was caused by my bad posture. I’m working on improving my posture and the pain is lessening each and every day. It makes me feel vital and younger looking. Amazing, isn’t it!
Love you,
Mom