7 stretches for a better posture
Hi there, I hope you are having a great day.
Let’s begin our newsletter with something funny.
My boss is going to fire the employee with the worst posture.
I have a hunch, it might be me.
What is posture?
In simple terms, posture is how your spine is aligned with your head, shoulders, and hips. Many factors can contribute to bad posture.
Daily habits such as texting incessantly can increase the chances of a condition called Text Neck.
It's when your neck is held in too much flexion or forward bending for too long. Sitting at a computer, constant stress, wearing the wrong shoes, heredity and genetics can also create havoc on your posture. If not corrected, you may suffer from muscle, joint, neck, head, or back pain.
But luckily, simply adding daily stretches to your routine can help improve your posture.
Today, I’m going to share with you 7 simple stretches you can do anywhere, anytime.
Are you ready?
Postures stretches
1- Good mornings
This is a great way to begin your day.
Lift your arms as high as you can while taking a deep breath in through your nose. Hold it up for 2 seconds and exhale through your mouth bringing your arms down to your hips. Repeat 5 times.
2- Cat stretch
Go on all fours. Round up your back as you take a deep breath in. Hold it for 2 seconds and exhale through the mouth as you drop your back down. Repeat 5 times.
3- Superman
Lay down on your stomach. Lift your shoulders and legs off the ground. Keeping your head facing down to protect your neck, bring your arms forward and back. Repeat 15 times.
4- Thumbs up
Laying down on the floor, keep your legs down but your shoulders off the ground. Have your arms straight in front of you with your thumbs facing up towards the ceiling. Now lift your arms up and down. This is a tough one but you will master it with time. Repeat 15 times.
5- Arm up/Leg up
Go on all fours. Lift 1 arm and the opposite leg. Hold it for 2 seconds then change sides. Repeat 5 times per side.
6- Planks
Here's a great drill to strengthen your core.
Go on your elbows and have your body parallel to the floor (you could either do it with your toes or knees on the floor).
Stay in that static position for as long as you can. Your goal is to hold the plank for the golden standard of 2 minutes.
7- Wall Press
Put your entire body against a wall. Now, without moving your back and glutes away from the wall, lift your arms up and down. Repeat 15 times.
My take
A great posture is something we maintain. You are not born with it nor is it something that you do once and done.
You have to strengthen your core, elongate muscles, and be more conscious of the way you sit and walk at all times.
Bad or out-of-alignment posture is common. It can affect your appearance, self-confidence, and general well-being. The good news is that you can improve your posture with the stretches that I just shared with you.
As always, please share this newsletter with someone you care about:
https://www.laurentstransformationplan.com/blog/2021/11/11/betterposture
And now, let’s eat.
What’s for dinner?
I’m sure you have never heard that before, right?
Here’s a great dinner idea that comes straight from Italy. 35 minutes is all you need. You can also prep a batch in advance, freeze it and take it out anytime you are in a hurry. Tuscan chicken and mushroom skillet.
