It's time to re-align!

Ok so Slouchy definitely looks good on bags and boots... on you, not so much. 

Here I am sitting at the international airport waiting for my flight and all I can see is poor posture. Everyone seems to be too engaged in their electronic devices. Out of the ten people sitting directly in front of me, there is only one person- that's right, one person sitting tall with their shoulders back, chest open and head held high with a correct spine alignment. 

Here's why bad posture can also impact your fitness goals. 

Slumping your shoulders doesn't just make you resemble one of our long-extinct ancestors—if you don't stand up straight, no amount of exercise will give you the hot body you're after.

 Here's why: Over time, poor posture takes a serious toll on your spine, shoulders, hips, and knees. In fact, it can cause a cascade of structural flaws that lead to back and joint pain, reduced flexibility, and compromised muscles, all of which limit your ability to burn fat and build strength.

Here are some little tips to keep in mind;  

1 FORWARD HEAD

The problem Stiff muscles in the back of your neck.

 

The fix Moving only your head, drop your chin down and in toward your sternum while stretching the back of your neck. Hold for a count of five; do this 10 times a day.

2 ROUNDED SHOULDERS

The problem Weakness in the middle and lower parts of your trapezius (the large muscle that is across your shoulders and back)

The fix Lie facedown on the floor, with each arm at a 90-degree angle in the high-five position. Without changing your elbow angle, raise both arms by pulling your shoulders back and squeezing your shoulder blades together. Hold for five seconds. That's one rep; do two or three sets of 12 reps daily.

3 ANTERIOR PELVIC TILT

The problem Tight hip flexors which all you clients know I suffer from, and some of my clients do too! 

The fix Kneel on your left knee, with your right foot on the floor in front of you, knee bent. Press forward until you feel the stretch in your left hip. Tighten your butt muscles on your left side until you feel the front of your hip stretching comfortably. Reach upward with your left arm and stretch to the right side. Hold for a count of 30 seconds. That's one repetition; do three on each side.

Practise wall sits on a wall at home, make sure there is no gap in between the bottom of your spine and the middle of your back. Draw your belly button to your spine and correctly align your body. 

4 ELEVATED SHOULDER

The problem The muscle under your chest (running from your ribs to your shoulder blades) is weak.

The fix Sit upright in a chair with your hands next to your hips, palms down on the seat, arms straight. Without moving your arms, push down on the chair until your hips lift up off the seat and your torso rises. Hold for five seconds. That's one repetition; do two or three sets of 12 reps daily.

5 PIGEON TOES

The problem Weak glutes (butt muscles)

The fix Lie on one side with your knees bent 90 degrees and your heels together. Keeping your hips still, raise your top knee upward, separating your knees like a clamshell. Pause for five seconds, then lower your knee to the starting position. That's one rep. Perform two or three sets of 12 reps on each side daily.

6 DUCK FEET

The problem Your oblique muscles and hip flexors are weak.

The fix Get into a pushup position with your feet resting on a stability ball. Without rounding your lower back, tuck your knees under your torso, using your feet to roll the ball toward your body, then back to the starting position. That's one rep. Do two or three sets of six to 12 reps daily.

Assess your posture

Wear something form-fitting and take two full-body photos—one from the front, one from the side. Relax your muscles and stand as tall as you can, feet hip-width apart. Then refer to the fix-it plan (below left) to diagnose your posture problems.

1 / Look at your ear. If it's in front of the midpoint of your shoulder, your head is too far forward.

2 / Can you see your shoulder blade? That means your back is too rounded.

3 / If your hips tilt forward and you have a belly pooch (even if you don't have an ounce of fat on your body) and your lower spine is arched significantly, this means you have an anterior pelvic tilt.

4 / Look at your shoulders. One shouldn't appear higher than the other.

5 / Check out your kneecaps. Do they point inward, causing your knees to touch when your legs are straightened?

6 / See if you're duck-footed. Your toes will point outward more than 10 degrees.

Now that I've given you a few suggestions on how to fix these problems. Take the challenge yourself, take the photos and take the opportunity to improve your posture - trust me it'll be worth it in the long run.