- Helps You Breathe Easier
Sitting or standing in a wrong posture can make it difficult to breathe by exerting a lot of pressure on the lungs and other body structures that support normal breathing.
- Fewer Headaches and Joint Pains
Poor posture can cause headaches as it creates undue tension by compressing your joints and other body structures. For instance, when you are sitting at a computer with your head pushed forward and back curved in a slouched position, you compress the joints in the neck and lower back. This joint compression alters the feedback received by the brain about your body position. As a result, it leads to an onset of joint pains and frequent headaches that worsen with time. A good posture helps to correct this imbalance by sending positive signals to the brain and aligning your spine properly.
- Increased Energy Levels
Everything functions better when the body is in optimal alignment. Since a good posture allows your lungs to function properly, it also improves blood flow from the lungs to other parts of the body. This helps to transport a lot of oxygen throughout your system, which translates to more energy. Better posture also allows you to generate a higher cell exchange that makes your cells healthy and efficient. The amount of oxygen and nutrients supplied to the cells and tissues increases your energy levels since muscles rely on glucose and clearing out waste to function better.
- Boosts Confidence and Self-Esteem
A good posture not only changes the way people look at you but also how you look at yourself. For instance, if you are slouching or appear slumped down during a job interview, your interviewer may see you as less confident and less capable of that job position. A good posture can help you earn the respect of other people around you and be confident about yourself. How good you look in front of a mirror can boost your confidence and mood as it is primarily determined by your posture. It also determines whether you are thriving or are weak both physically and mentally.
- Better Food Digestion
The food you eat is broken down into small particles and moves down to your small and large intestines through a process known as peristalsis. This movement is made possible by your diaphragm that drops down into the abdominal cavity when breathing. Your abdominal muscles, hip, and back all contract as a response to facilitate peristalsis. However, improper posture can put a lot of compression on your stomach, reducing the available room for peristalsis. Practicing good posture promotes better food digestion due to the proper placement of organs and systems in your body.
- It Helps Relieve Anxiety
Lifting shoulders towards the ears, tightening muscles, and holding breath are some movements that can happen naturally when you are under stress and depression. When you feel anxious, your brain and the nervous system receives the feedback that there is a threat. However, if you sit upright with your shoulders down and exercise normal breathing, your brain receives the feedback that everything is fine and does not need to engage hormones to fight or flight the response. This makes it useful in treating mood and anxiety disorders.
A few simple exercises and lifestyle changes can help you improve your posture. Good muscle flexibility, normal joint motion, and balanced muscles on both sides of your spine promote a good posture. It is important to be aware of your posture at all times whether you are sitting, standing, or lying down. This helps to prevent misalignment of the spine as it affects your overall health and wellbeing.