By Kolleen Riddick Many Americans have found themselves sitting for a living. We sit in the car for hours, then in front of a computer for work, then the television until bedtime.
Even worse, our children sit for more hours than we ever did. They have replaced physical play with texting and playing video games.
So it is no wonder very few of us can even get into and hold proper body alignment. Instead, we are looking more and more like cavemen. Look around ... how many people do you see sitting up straight?
Take a quick moment to assess your posture. Are your shoulders rolled forward? Is your head jetting forward? Do you have a slight bend in your lower back?
Here is how you can find your proper posture:
Stand up with your feet shoulder-width apart, feet facing forward.
Concentrate on your feet first. Pretend that you have a grape under your arch. Let your ankle collapse slightly, putting pressure on that grape. Now roll your ankle out, letting the grape roll away. Settle in the middle of these two positions and hold.
Now on to your hips. Roll them under, jetting your pelvis forward. Then roll them back, letting your lower back arch. Now settle in the middle and hold.
Next, roll your shoulders forward, and then back. Settle in the middle and hold.
Finally, take your chin and stick it way out. Now push it back. Settle in the middle and hold.
You have just found your proper posture. If you are having a hard time maintaining this posture, you may need to do some corrective stretching with a certified personal trainer
Riddick, a National Academy of Sports Medicine Certified Personal Trainer and Corrective Exercise Specialist, is founder of Milton-based CorePhysique and instructs Milton's fitness camps through a partnership with the City of Milton.
Click here to learn more about the city's fitness camps.
1 comment:
This is excellent - so many should take heed, myself included.
Thank you access milton.
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