What is posture and why is it so important?
Posture is one of those misunderstood concepts. It can often bring to mind ideas of standing up very straight and pulling our shoulders back and down. Let’s unpick that starting with the definition of posture...
The Cambridge Dictionary defines posture as:
Posture
noun [C/U]
(POSITION OF BODY)
a position of the body, or the way in which someone holds the body when standing, sitting, or walking:
[ C ] Newton sat back in a reclining posture.
[ U ] She’s got good/bad posture.
The definition says “the way someone holds their body in standing, sitting or walking.” The main takeaway is that posture isn’t fixed; good posture doesn’t mean ‘fixing’ or holding ourselves rigidly as this only creates tension and, more importantly, isn’t dynamic or natural. We aren’t static beings, we’re organic, designed to move, so by fixing and holding we’re going against our human design.
Joseph Pilates said:
“Never slouch, as doing so compresses the lungs, overcrowds other vital organs, rounds the back and throws you off balance.”
Joseph Pilates
Most would agree that if we slouch this is not optimal posture. When we slouch we can get stuck there through our daily habits, sedentary lifestyle or in times of stress or if we experience trauma.
When we slouch we compress all our organs making it hard for them to function. It’s also much harder to breathe so your diaphragm will have difficulty descending, which can impact the health of your pelvic floor's health and your core muscles' ability to work together effectively.
We’re organic beings, designed to move, by fixing and holding we’re going against our human design.
Posture isn’t as simple as not slouching.
I describe posture as adaptable and dynamic, it’s our bodies’ ability to shapeshift and find optimal alignment at any given moment and most importantly without restriction or pain.
Think of your skeleton, surrounded by fascia, muscles, tendons, ligaments and all that it protects inside of us, even when we’re not moving so much is changing and moving inside, our bladder fills and empties and our lungs fill and empty, everything around these organs adapts and shifts accordingly. Our organs are dynamic and constantly changing and, like our posture, nothing is fixed.
So, what can you do to improve your posture?
Remember your posture is dynamic, so keep moving as frequently as possible.
Develop an awareness of your alignment at any moment in the day, especially if you notice any aches and pains.
If you work at a desk, take frequent breaks a day to stand and allow your body to move out of the chair shape your body will have adapted to.
Notice any tension; let your jaw, glutes, abs and shoulders go. Set a reminder on your phone that tells you to do this every hour.
And lastly, do Pilates! If you are struggling with neck tension, back pain, or aching hips you may need to do it more than you imagine. You spend more time at work than you do undoing that posture so you need to move more than you think.
At Lauren Hilton Pilates At Home, we have curated a whole collection of classes designed to support optimal posture. These classes will help you build awareness of your alignment, improve your posture and decrease tension, here’s a sneak peek:
Try this free posture class
If you sit at a desk all day try this short class. once the exercises feel familiar try it a few times a day.
Let us know how you get on!
If you found that free class beneficial, we have a few more short taster classes for free on our LHP YouTube channel or join Pilates At Home
Our LHP At Home online classes are all mat-based, some with props to enhance connection.
Take a quick tour of Pilates At Home to see the variety and specialisms we cover for just £25 per mth, cancel anytime. We’d love to welcome you.
See you in the studio or online soon!
Lauren x
Owner and Pilates teacher, Lauren Hilton Pilates, Shrewsbury
