Correct Posture

[Vinny]

Kungfu and Karate fighters, I know you're out there. Teach me how to have correct posture? To keep my back straight so my shoulders doesn't hurt so much. Teach me how to stand and look grounded. Posh ladies with books on your head, show me how to walk and look confident. Military stud and studdettes, show me how to sit and radiate control. Actors? Actresses? shcool me in your wiley ways.

When I conciously try to have "correct" posture, straight back, hips sucked in slightly, square shoulders ... I could maybe hold it up for 5 minutes, maybe! OK if I try really really hard, maybe 10, then poofed, back to slouching.

I want to make better impressions with better body posture. I want to seem taller than I really am. I want to be a stick!

And my upper back really hurts all the time now

[LGB*]

Alexander Technique is what you need mate.

There is aany number of books available from Amazon, but maybe your local hippy alternative/complimetary health shop might be good for advice on which book to buy.

I tried it and my back improved so much, I was able to conquer most of the know world by the time I turned 26.

[VinnyQ]

ooo thankee.

I shall look it up on my local hippy store, Amazon.com.

[VinnyQ]

errr ... which one of these would you recommend, LGB?

linky

[GH]

That's easy. The one with the bare butt on it. You can use this strategy in all facets of life.

[VinnyQ]

If it was really that easy. I don't see bare butt in STOCK symbol!

but seriously, I am not liking this customer review comment, but then again, I shouldn't really pay attention to those should I?

[VinnyQ]

[LGB*]

'Fraid I cannae recommend one in particualar. I'm really recommending the technique more than anything, your local hippy store will probably be able to tell you where to find an Alexander Technique class. That would be best.

[HyToFry]

This is post 11111.

Just look at those ones. They all have PERFECT posture. Print them out, and study them Vinny. Try to pretend like you, yourself, are a "1." Except don't walk like a duck, 'cause that would look silly.
_________________
"History is merely a list of surprises. It can only prepare us to be surprised yet again." Hi ho.

[VinnyQ]

wthayta?

[HyToFry]

The property of ones.

A "one" that isn't cold, is scarcely a "one" at all.
_________________
"History is merely a list of surprises. It can only prepare us to be surprised yet again." Hi ho.

[LGB*]

[VinnyQ]

LGB prbly meant 1 on the scale of 1 - 10 on hotornot.com

[LGB*]

Vinny!! Stand up straight when you refer to me!!!

[VinnyQ]

*sits up*

*got lazy*

*slouches back down*

[LGB]

Have you found out if there are any classes in the local area?
Incidentally, before I tried that, I thought Tai Chi might work, it doesn't, In fact it put a much greater strain on my back.

You should also look the cause of the pain/strain. You might find that it's just because you are on it too much.

[casinopete]

[jesternl]

That never worked for me.
I seem to be stuck on the 5 minute limit as well, despite thinking about it very often. People say that it'll get easier to sit up straight over time, but after a while my back hurts enough to not be able to sit or stand up straight any more.

[Jedo the Jedi]

I was always taught 'shoulders back, chest out, stomach in.' That's how I walk mostly and typically how I stand. How I sit is another thing entirely, and I know I need to work on that. Another tip is to keep your head up, I should think. Walking with a book on your head really does help, but it isn't that practical.

I'm going to need to review this Alexander Technique to make sure I'm not contradicting...

[Ningal]

You wouldn't be able to hold a book on your head while standing according to the Alexander Technique recommendations—the position that allows you to do that actually tilts your head back artificially. The actual top of your head is rounded, not flat.

[Jedo*]

Well, your chin should be parallel to the ground. How about that?

[casinopete]

I have some further info from my friendly neighborhood doctor (and former yoga instructor).

The key is strengthening muscles in the upper and middle back. Ideal seems to be a rowing movement. You don't want your shoulderblades to pull together, meaning, don't pull your elbows behind the plane of your back.

If you don't have access to a rowing machine, you can instead use a narrow table or exercise ball, on which you lay facedown, and lift weights in that same rowing motion. Again, don't lift your elbows behind the plane of your back.

Start small. Seriously, start small. You DO NOT want to mess around with injuring your back. Five pound weights are a good starting amount.

An even more gradual way of getting started, or a good way to start if you don't have any kind of equipment, is a beginner yoga pose in which you simply lie facedown on the floor, and lift your right arm and left leg slightly, hold for ten seconds, then reverse, now using your left[/iu arm and [u]right leg. Repeat three or four times. After a week or so (if you can do it daily without wearing your back out), once you've gotten used to this amount, increase the time you hold your limbs raised (rather than the number of repetitions).

You can be sure this exercise is good, because Pilates stole it for his program. fnord.

cheers.

[VinnyQ]

thanks, petesie!

Now not only do I have crap all over the front of my shirts, but my co-workers are looking at me funny.

[casinopete]

I'm sorry, Vinny.

Of course you're right, I should have mentioned that you should remove the feces from your table before you lay facedown on it.