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08-20-2007, 02:57 AM
| #1 (permalink) |
| Member Join Date: May 2007
Posts: 67
 |  Posture
I've never had great posture, and I'd like to do something about that. Are there any exercises/stretches that I can do to help my posture? My neck also always seems to bend forward above my back, even if my head is straight. Is this natural? |
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08-20-2007, 03:07 AM
| #2 (permalink) | |
| Banned Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Quebec, Canada
Posts: 3,811
| Quote:
Also, your spine might be a little malformed... in which case there is nothing that you can do... So, the very best that you can do is to be aware of your posture... try to stand relatively straight... and stick a great big grin on your face...  . | |
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08-20-2007, 03:12 AM
| #3 (permalink) |
| Senior Member Join Date: May 2007
Posts: 632
| Actually
There are steps you can take to improve your posture. One is to strengthen the muscles in your back and this you can accomplish with free weights. Check it out: How to Improve Your Posture - wikiHow How to Improve Your Posture - wikiHow |
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08-20-2007, 03:30 AM
| #4 (permalink) | |
| Banned Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Quebec, Canada
Posts: 3,811
| Quote:
What would be needed to change the posture would be to modify the muscular tonicity (the tonicity is the tension that remains in a muscle once we have voluntary have relaxed it) of the body... it would have to be increased in some parts of the body and decreased in other... an almost impossible task... . | |
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08-20-2007, 03:59 AM
| #6 (permalink) | |
| Banned Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Quebec, Canada
Posts: 3,811
| Quote:
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08-20-2007, 04:17 AM
| #7 (permalink) | |
| Member Join Date: May 2007
Posts: 67
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08-20-2007, 04:26 AM
| #8 (permalink) | |
| Banned Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Quebec, Canada
Posts: 3,811
| Quote:
Also, you can be posture conscious... and actually make the effort to stand the way that you would like to... and soon, it will become a habit... like a soldier... you don't see them slouching do you...??? they don't slouch because they have been taught to stand straight... and you can teach yourself... Just don't give up... Anymore questions...??? . | |
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08-20-2007, 04:34 AM
| #9 (permalink) | |
| Member Join Date: May 2007
Posts: 67
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08-20-2007, 04:59 AM
| #11 (permalink) |
| Member Join Date: May 2007
Posts: 67
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Hm... possibly, although it's a bit hard to tell. The head positioning (at the front of the back rather than closer to the back on the right spine) definitely reminds me of me. One thing that I have noticed is that "standing up straight" with the top part of my body invariably forces my lower abdomen (stomach/abs area) to have a significant forward arch in the back. Is this a serious condition, or the result of slumping over too much when I was younger (I'm 16 now)? Last edited by ArtVandelay; 08-20-2007 at 05:04 AM. |
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08-20-2007, 05:07 AM
| #12 (permalink) | |
| Banned Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Quebec, Canada
Posts: 3,811
| Quote:
It has nothing to do with slumping... and the worst possible thing that it can do is to give the impression that your tummy is bigger than it actually is... don't worry about it... . | |
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08-20-2007, 05:13 AM
| #13 (permalink) | |
| Member Join Date: May 2007
Posts: 67
| Quote:
.My back does hurt sometimes, but you make it sound like it has nothing to do with this, which I hope is true! I've been reading up on body language, and apparently standing up straight is key to projecting confidence and charisma. Will this have any effect on that? Thanks for the help, I really appreciate it  !
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08-20-2007, 01:01 PM
| #14 (permalink) |
| Family Member Join Date: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,629
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When I was about 11 I read that sitting/standing up straight affords one more energy and thus I adopted the habit. Then 2-3 years ago I made a point of leaning back in chairs more just to seem more human so people could relate to me better. Before, I never touched the back of chairs as I didn't lean back at all. At least I got plenty of compliments on my posture  Making myself slouch made my back sore for a while but now it doesn't feel like so much of an issue. Sitting up straight still feels easier than slouching though. One thing I've noticed is that a lot of chairs (particularly easy chairs/couches) are designed to make you lean back, and that you'd actually have an easier time of sitting up straight in them if you did a 180, with your chest facing the back of the chair, or simply sit on the edge of the chair, which would make you seem more interested in whatever was going on anyhow. |
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08-20-2007, 01:53 PM
| #15 (permalink) | |
| Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Detroit
Posts: 772
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I agree with Shamou that posture is mostly about attitude. It's also about developing good habits, though, like sitting straight and not slouching. I'd say working on eliminating the bad habits will take you further than anything. Of course I'm as guilty of bad posture as anyone. | |
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08-20-2007, 02:02 PM
| #16 (permalink) |
| Banned Join Date: Nov 2006
Posts: 22,520
| Alexander Technique
Danger Man and I took a class in the Alexander Technique earlier this year (through the city's adult education program) and it completely transformed the way we move and hold ourselves. I highly recommend it. It's not about traditional posture ("stand up straight!") so much as being aware of your body and releasing your points of tension when necessary. One big difference it made for me is that I held a lot of tension in the slump area you're talking about and also my trapezius muscles, and after taking the class I learned to spot the triggers that made me hurt and to let practice releasing my head "up and forward." This made it possible for me to run again without pain and stress on my back. Interestingly, it also made me relax when speaking and to feel much, much lighter on my feet all day. |
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08-20-2007, 06:15 PM
| #17 (permalink) |
| Senior Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Washington State
Posts: 501
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I highly recommend taking lessons in the Alexander Technique. As Angela said, it's less about "posture" and more about being aware of your habits and making choices about how you use yourself. I'd suggest a teacher certified by AmSAT, STAT, or an affiliated society since their teacher certification standards are highest (1600+ hours of small-group instruction). AmSAT - United States STAT - UK Affiliated Societies List |
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08-20-2007, 08:10 PM
| #18 (permalink) |
| Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2007
Posts: 152
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"Also, your spine might be a little malformed... in which case there is nothing that you can do..." Sorry Shamou, Chiropracter or not, this statement is nonsense. Most spinal issues are really postural issues therefore issues of the myofascial structure. Much can be done to relive lordosis, herniated discs, scoliosis, kyphosis, spondylitis. More often than not these problems are a result of a lack of full range movement. Posture can certainly be affected by exercise, I'm proof of it. Art, take a look here: The Egoscue Method Buddy |
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08-21-2007, 12:37 AM
| #20 (permalink) | |
| Banned Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Quebec, Canada
Posts: 3,811
| Quote:
He's an exercise therapist...   . | |
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08-21-2007, 07:24 PM
| #23 (permalink) | |
| Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Sunny FL
Posts: 46
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08-21-2007, 07:29 PM
| #24 (permalink) | |
| Banned Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Quebec, Canada
Posts: 3,811
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"While his methods enjoy tremendous popularity, his claims are not backed by clinical trial evidence and are unconventional." A good businessman does not necessarily makes a good therapist... . . | |
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08-21-2007, 07:57 PM
| #25 (permalink) |
| Banned Join Date: Nov 2006
Posts: 22,520
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I tried the Egoscue Method actually because Steve Pavlina recommended it some time ago. I found it helpful in relieving back pain and tension, but it took too much time -- I would get restless just lying there for an hour. The Alexander Technique had a similar function called -- what, "Active Rest" -- that was refreshing and relaxing, but didn't take so long, and didn't require any special equipment, like Egoscue did. |
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08-21-2007, 08:01 PM
| #26 (permalink) |
| Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2006
Posts: 212
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Another option might be an exercise ball. I recently got one, and I'm finding it to be quite helpful - my core strength was pretty low to begin with, but it's increasing at a decent rate, and my lower back pain from spending a -lot- of hours a day, most days, for quite a few years, slouched on a chair with my lower back in a terrible position gets mitigated when I sit on the ball instead. The most extreme changes seem temporary, but I'm starting to notice a gradual improvement that I'm quite happy with. Apparently the most efficient way to sit on the ball is with a good posture; I do find myself not slouching much or often on it, just because it's so much more work to do so.
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08-21-2007, 09:37 PM
| #28 (permalink) | |
| Banned Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Quebec, Canada
Posts: 3,811
| Quote:
Even mental resistance create muscular tension... go with the flow... is the best way to go... . | |
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08-21-2007, 09:50 PM
| #29 (permalink) | |
| Banned Join Date: Nov 2006
Posts: 22,520
| Quote:
Running kept hurting though until I started the Alexander Technique. Now I can run and still keep suppleness through my neck and back and minimize the impact. Much better now. | |
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08-22-2007, 10:27 PM
| #30 (permalink) |
| Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2007
Posts: 152
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""While his methods enjoy tremendous popularity, his claims are not backed by clinical trial evidence and are unconventional." So you're commenting on something about which you know nothing. Your own profession was dismissed as quackery only a short while ago and you are still quick to judge. Even now your pet "theory" is dismissed by MDs and chiropractors themselves. See: Subluxation: Chiropractic's Elusive Buzzword Or: Take It from a DC. A Lot of Chiropractic Is a Sham or many many more. Careful inside that glass house, Sham. |
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