How Daily Movement Helps Improve Posture and Health

As we blaze through the new year and navigate our busy lives, it’s important to pause and check in with our health.

More specifically, are we maintaining the resolutions we set this year? Are we on course with our health and fitness goals and maintaining good posture? It’s perfectly natural to sway off course and sometimes it helps to do an audit and realign accordingly.

Today, we’re talking about the power of movement. Not just turning the head side to side, but really shaking things up. Let’s face it, many of us live somewhat sedentary lives due to a variety of contributing factors: work, injuries, etc.

With a little movement, we can circumvent sedentary behaviors and shake things up to improve posture and overall health. The benefits of movement include building muscle strength and improving mental clarity and focus. What’s more, movement keeps the body activated and bolsters good posture.

So, let’s shake it up and take a look at how movement helps improve posture.

Builds Muscle Strength

A large component to maintaining upright posture is to strengthen the core and back muscles. Movement engages the muscles, in effect building muscle strength. Incorporate daily core exercises, which are particularly helpful at strengthening the postural muscles that insulate and protect the spine.

Tip: Add a one minute plank to your lunch break for a supersized dose of core strengthening.

Improves Circulation

Every minute the heart pumps roughly 5 quarts of blood through the body. Circulation sends oxygen throughout the body and promotes energy. However, stagnant energy can slow circulation, and in turn slow the flow of blood and oxygen throughout the body. This can lead to fatigue and sluggishness.

When this happens, we are more likely to slouch and lose focus. That’s ok, because the good news is that circulation can regenerate with activity. One study determined that one hour of physical activity a day eliminates the toll of eight hours of inactivity. What a great opportunity to get the body moving!

Improve Focus, Mental Clarity and Moods

When we move, we’re engaging and stimulating ourselves physically, mentally and emotionally. For example, movement is a mood-booster proven to spark joy and happiness. What’s more, that healthy flow of oxygen clears the head and stimulates mental clarity.

Although the pressure to remain productive might take priority over movement, it can actually have an adverse effect. Taking time away from work or projects to exercise, stretch or get the body moving will regenerate both the body and mind.

Start Moving to Improve Posture

There is a correlation between movement and posture. You might be wondering how to get good posture? Well, posture training while working, exercising and moving is a great way to turn good posture into a habit. Whenever you exercise or stretch, it’s important to maintain upright posture.

The key to maintaining daily movement is to get the body moving for at least 30 minutes a day. This can include a brisk walk, jogging, yoga, stretching, hiking, dancing, swimming, cycling, playing sports. It doesn’t matter what the movement is, so long as it engages the body.

Ready to shake things up? Turn up the music, put on your UPRIGHT posture corrector and get moving. Dance like no one’s watching for 20 minutes, go for a refreshing 30-minute walk, jump-rope, play hopscotch, release yourself from obligations and let your body take over. You’ll feel refreshed, think clearer and might even have a little fun while you’re at it!