Achieve Perfect Posture
Posted on January 31st, 2010 by admin
Perfect posture is essential to looking good, feeling good and getting less injury.
Most people spend the majority of their day hunched over a computer, slumped in the car or slumped in front of the TV.
Over time, this becomes our habitual posture without us realising it.
If our muscles are short, tight and knotted, we start to feel aching in our neck, shoulders and low back. Our bodies are much more likely to get injured and when we look in the mirror we will be looking back at an aged, hunched, stooped figure we don’t recognise.
So- what can we do?
The best thing to do is book a physio session first to get your muscles and joints in your spine released. Then do personal training Bournemouth centre, to learn the most effective exercises to strenghten your spine.
In the meantime try this quick test: Stand against a wall. The back of your head, shoulder blades and bottom should line up easily. If you struggle to get your head back against the wall you are developing a hunch.
Here are some exercises to add to your programme to reverse or prevent hunched posture:
1) Shoulder stretch
Lie on your back with your knees bent. Raise your arms over your head. Stretch your arms next to your head – hold 30 seconds- then slowly bring them to your side by keeping your elbows and wrists touching the floor at all times.
2) Swiss ball T
Lie face down on a Swiss ball. Hold a pair of 1 kg dumbbells. Start with your arms hanging down then bring them out to the side forming a T shape with your torso. Repeat 15 times.
3) Seated Row
Sit with upright posture; pull the bar towards your chest. Make sure you are not pulling with your neck muscles but focus on the muscles between your shoulder blades. Repeat 15 times.
4) At the desk
Do 10 shoulder retractions every hour.
Stand and pull your shoulders behind you every hour. Hold 20 seconds.