Good posture is an important part of long-term health, according to theNational Institutes of Health.
Slouching and slumping over can make your spine more fragile and prone to injury.
Poor posture can also causeneck, shoulder and back pain.
Heres how to achieve perfect posture that would make your mother proud.
Part One
Stand so that your left side is adjacent to a full-length mirror.
Turn your head slightly to see your reflection, or ask a partner to assess you.
Now ask:
They should be directly over your shoulders, not out in front.
To bring your ears back: Lift the crown of your head toward the ceiling.
Keep your eyes forward, jaw parallel to the floor.
Pull your shoulder blades back, as though trying to touch them together.
Belly fatand too much sitting cause our hips to tilt forward.
Your ankle bones should be directly below your hip bones, for proper balance.
Part Two
Holding your newly aligned posture, turn to face the mirror.
To loosen up, clasp your hands behind you, interlocking your fingers, palms together.
Lift your hands up and backward as far as you’re able to.
Hold for 10 seconds, then return to the starting position.
They should be shoulder-width apart and even with each other, toes facing forward.
Shuffle your feet until theyre even with each other and no farther apart than shoulder width.
Take a moment to feel how youre balanced.
Your weight should be distributed equally on both feet.
Tightness in the backcan pull the knees out of alignment.
Try this easy stretch: Stand with your big toes touching and your heels slightly apart.
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