Improve posture to heal both the body and the mind. Proper posture is critical to health and wellness, and hence natural healing. For natural healing to take place, the body and the mind must be ready for healing. Good posture reduces stress to internal organs. Given that the brain sends messages through nerve pathways to muscles and internal organs, it is critical that the messages are effectively and efficiently sent to optimize their functioning. Additionally, good posture ensures correct breathing to maximize the input of oxygen to body cells and organs for their optimum health. In short, good posture creates a good environment for the body and the mind to recuperate from disease.
When we were children, we were unself-conscious of our poise and posture. As a result, we used to have free balanced and fluid movements. However, as we grew up, we became more self-conscious of our bodies, and our posture began to change for the worse. The stressful lifestyle and the environment only add insult to the injury, causing many of us to stoop our bodies and to have round shoulders, and thus distorting our once perfect posture. Poor posture is especially bad for the elderly because it is the main cause of falling, which is the 2nd leading cause of death in women aged between 65 and 85, and the leading cause of death for most individuals over 85. Falling, which is mainly due to incorrect posture, induces debilitating muscle pain, which creates the vicious circle of pain and muscle atrophy.
Proper Standing Posture
It is important to improve posture to heal, in particular, standing posture for a straight spine, straight shoulders without slumping. Here are the steps to improve posture to heal:
- Stand with feet hip-width apart (for better balance).
- Align ears, shoulders, and hips (Using a mirror for alignment).
- Unlock both knees (maintaining “neutral” pelvis; avoiding pelvis tilting forward).
- Pull in abdominal muscles.
- Inhale naturally.
- Exhale slowly while pulling belly button into the spine.
- Lift rib cage (straightening rounded upper back; expanding the lungs for deeper breathing).
- Realign head over shoulders (head not leaning backward).
- Unround shoulders (by rotating arms until palms facing thighs).
- Gently press shoulders down, away from the ears.
- Pull shoulder blades towards the spine.
- Stretch head upwards without tilting backwards.
Practice the above until correct posture becomes second nature to you. Develop your awareness of good posture at all times.
Meditation is the most effective way to relax the body and the mind to prepare them for natural healing. However, an important component of effective meditation is breathing. In meditation, the mental focus is exclusively on breathing. Improve posture to improve breathing. When you are breathing right, you feel relaxation of the body and the mind, and hence promoting a meditative mind.
To improve posture (sitting posture for meditation), do the following:
- Sit with neutral pelvis (pelvis not tilting forward).
- Do not lean over (head-forward position), putting undue pressure on your neck and upper back.
- Do not rest against the back.
- Lift your rib cage. Press your belly button into your spine.
- Stick you chin forward and pull back your head and neck.
- Keep your head high and flatten your upper back.
Incorrect Sitting Posture Correct Sitting Posture
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Perfect Posture Program
Perfect Posture Program: Follow Mark Sias, a fitness expert and a gymnastics instructor, in his detailed and well-structured program with videos to fix your postural problems.
Workout may make you lose a few extra pounds, but it does not change your body shape if you have postural problems. A misaligned body is the culprit not only in distorting your physical appearance but also in impairing your overall health.
Brace posture does not solve your postural problems! Brace posture only increases your dependency on gadgets to correct posture. Instead, improve posture with Mark’s personalized exercise program with videos based on “postural muscle equilibrium” theory.
Good posture is fundamental to holistic health and healing. For healing to take place, the mind must express the intent to heal, without which there is no cure or natural healing. The intent to heal is then manifested in focus, which directs the mind to take actions to heal the body. One of the necessary actions to take is to improve posture to facilitate the healing process of the body.
Stephen Lau
Copyright © by Stephen Lau
