First impressions are usually made within the first three seconds of meeting someone, however, sometimes an impression can be made even before the initial meeting. Body language is what determines whether or not someone will approach you and the main thing people judge, even if they aren’t aware of it, is a person’s posture. A commanding presence is both sexy and attention-worthy, but all too often we walk around with our head down and shoulders hunched as a way of sheltering ourselves from external influences.
Yoga is about perfecting poses and with each pose, there is an emphasis on the alignment of your spine (posture). As you begin to dive deeper into your yoga practice, you will start seeing immediate results as well as others you encounter. A great way to check your posture is to place your arms behind your back and open up your chest, bringing your shoulders back, close to your spine. This releases tension in your chest which helps in the lengthening of your spine. Certain yoga poses can help with your posture and reverse “desk hunch back”, flatten your stomach, appear thinner and more confident.
Yoga Pose #1 – Bridge
The Bridge pose opens your chest and keeps your spine flexible which helps you reverse the stress and strain of sitting at a desk all day. While this pose can be safely practiced by beginners, skilled practitioners can still experience many benefits. For a yogi, bridge pose lengthens the front body as well as the back body, creating space between your vertebrae and relieving pressure on the disks. This pose also gives the practitioner a great way to open the hip flexors which is essential for keeping their back healthy and strong.
Yoga Pose #2 – Triangle
The Triangle pose is a great back and core strengthener. The stresses of everyday life have a tendency to weaken our backs. Because it is also a twist, triangle pose helps our newly strong back stay supple and flexible, aiding in the recovery from the detrimental effects of arthritis and osteoporosis. There are many benefits to this pose. You will start to experience your legs, hips and spine becoming more elastic and strong. Triangle will create a good shape to your spinal nerves and abdominal organs and will also allow your chest muscles to broaden and the cavity within to expand. As you practice this pose, you will see your breathing become more regulated and powerful allowing your whole body to feel lighter and more centered.
Yoga Pose #3 – Hero Pose
Hero Pose is a wonderful position to reinforce good posture habits because it teaches proper alignment in all the spine’s curves. By practicing Hero pose daily, you can easily integrate your alignment awareness when you sit during the day as long as you remember to apply the same cues you practice when you sit at your desk or on your couch.
The daily practice of any yoga pose will help your posture and strength but having an awareness of your posture throughout the day is essential for improvement. Correct posture and spinal stability will make for a better you in many different ways.