How to Improve Your Health and Mood With Tips on Proper Posture

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Article Title:

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How to Improve Your Health and Mood With Tips on Proper Posture

Article Description:

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We have all heard that proper posture is very important. But how

many of us know what the consequences of poor posture and the

benefits of correct posture really are? How many of us even know

what good posture is and how to attain it?

Additional Article Information:

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684 Words; formatted to 65 Characters per Line

Distribution Date and Time: 2006-08-09 12:12:00

Written By: Todd Concklin

Copyright: 2006

Contact Email: mailto:Todd@...

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How to Improve Your Health and Mood With Tips on Proper Posture

Copyright © 2006 Todd Concklin

Concklin Internet Affiliates

http://www.back-in-shape-at-home.com/musclefitness.html

We have all heard that proper posture is very important. But how

many of us know what the consequences of poor posture and the

benefits of correct posture really are? How many of us even know

what good posture is and how to attain it?

Proper posture is really just aligning your skeletal system so

that it resists gravity with minimal stress and effort.

Some Ill Effects Of Poor Posture:

* Compression of vital organs and the space they should have to

function: When we are slouched and out of proper alignment our

vital organs can become compressed and/or forced to operate in a

smaller space then they were designed to. This can dramatically

reduce their effective functioning.

* Impeded flow of Chi (Vital energy): Improper posture stops Chi

from flowing evenly and efficiently. Think of a garden hose.

Does the water flow better when it is straight or when it is

kinked? It is the same with your meridians (chi pathways). When

the flow of chi is restricted, either an excess or a deficiency

of chi will occur. Over time, either can cause disease.

* Increased stress on joints and surrounding tissue: The

positioning of the body is important to the joints in the way

that gravity effects them. Proper alignment of the skeletal

structure will put less stress on the joints. Over time excess

stress on the joints can cause joint wear and/or modification.

* Negative emotional state caused by poor posture: Here is an

exercise you can try: Sit up straight in a fully energized

position with good posture for a couple of minutes. See what

emotions naturally occur. Next, slump down in your chair with

your head hung low. See what emotions naturally occur. Did you

notice an increased feeling of energy and positive emotions in

the first position? How was that different from the second

position? Lastly, try to feel positive feelings in the slumped

position and negative feelings in the upright, energized

position. It is harder to do, isn't it? This is an

exaggeration of your normal postures but it makes an excellent

point of how posture can effect your mood.

* Shallow breathing caused by poor posture: While seated, slump

down in your chair with your head hung low again. Now try to

take a nice deep breath. How did it feel? Next sit up again in

the fully energized position in proper posture. Take your nice

deep breath now. You can see that the lungs are able to function

much better when they are not compressed by improper posture.

Points To Consider In Obtaining Proper Standing Posture:

* Feet are about shoulder width apart.

* All parts of the feet are contacting the floor (toes, balls,

heel, bottom of blade).

* Weight is equal on both feet.

* No subtle strain on hips from leaning in any direction.

* Knees approximately over balls of foot (not past).

* Place your focus on your center (lower dan tien) space between

belly button and sexual organ in the middle of body.

* Coccyx (tailbone) slightly tucked. (Helps straighten and

lengthen spine.)

* Slight space under armpits.

* No tightness or raised shoulders.

* Scapulae (shoulder blades) slightly rounded.

* Chin slightly back and tucked in.

* Feeling of being pulled up from the crown of the head. (as if

hanging from a string attached to the ceiling to the top of your

head).

* For extended sitting try to keep the spine straight - use any

of the principles for standing that you can apply. Frequent

breaks are recommended for long periods of sitting. Even if you

get up for 5-10 seconds every 10-15 minutes and stretch it is

much better for you then just staying in a seated position.

Correcting your posture will help give you more energy and better

health. During the day if you realize that your posture is off

just take a second to correct it. Eventually it will become

second nature. While standing in lines at stores, talking on the

phone or working etc. think about having correct posture.

Correct posture will also give you better balance and a more

grounded stance. This is very important in self-defense and

martial arts.

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Todd Concklin

Concklin Internet Affiliates

PO Box 605

Montgomery, NY 12549

Todd@...

For more information on functional fitness go to:

http://www.back-in-shape-at-home.com/musclefitness.html

Todd has practiced martial arts for over 20 years and

has a special interest in QiGong and healing arts.