Don’t sit up!
This will likely seem to be an odd assertion for me to make as a trainer of the Alexander Method – a way recognized to assist folks with their posture.
Nevertheless, in case you have learn something I’ve written about posture earlier than it mustn’t come as a shock.
In a earlier weblog put up I defined it like this:
To be clear, the sort of posture I’m eager about will not be stiff or held, the best way so many individuals sadly consider “good posture.” It’s not about “standing up straight.” That may trigger as many issues because it solves.
It’s this concept that I need to revisit in the present day.
Many research have proven the worth of getting an upright posture, what you may consider as sitting or standing up straight.
Making an attempt to take a seat or get up straight, nonetheless, could cause a mess of issues, due to how most of us try to make it occur. On high of that, it’s merely not true. We’re not straight, and our backbone definitely isn’t straight – even after we’re at our most upright, it has lovely light, versatile curves.
Listed here are three key explanation why it is best to NOT attempt to sit, or stand, up straight.
#1 You’re Making Your self Shorter!
While you attempt to sit, or stand, up straight, you almost certainly maintain your self stiffly into place. You aren’t even being as tall as you may be, consider it or not. Tight muscular tissues are contracted muscular tissues, so by tightening to take a seat or stand “up straight” you might be really making your self shorter than you actually are, albeit not as brief as in case you had been slumping or slouching. You might be prone to be over-arching your again – maybe overcompensating for not slumping. After all, if it’s over-arched, you can not probably be as upright, or as tall, as you may be.
#2 You’re Limiting Your Breath
Sit up now. Discover what occurs to your breath. Do you are feeling like you may breathe freely or deeply? If you happen to’re like most individuals, you’ll discover that you just’re holding your breath, or that it’s harder to breathe. After we can sit in a naturally upright means, nonetheless, it’s straightforward to breathe.
#3 You’re Inflicting Pressure, Ache and Stress
While you sit up you might be inflexible and stiff. You might be utilizing extra rigidity to carry your self up, as a substitute of merely being upright naturally, the best way a younger youngster typically is. That rigidity will be uncomfortable, and over time can flip into ache in your neck, shoulders, again or hips and result in all kinds of issues. You might be additionally placing stress on your self, actually! Being upright does NOT must be this fashion.
I don’t need to discourage you from the deserves of being upright. If you happen to take a look at this weblog, I web site many explanation why having an upright posture is necessary.
As an alternative, I recommend a distinct means for getting there. After we study to attach with our physique’s innate intelligence, we uncover a pure posture that’s upright but relaxed, balanced and fluid. Moderately than contributing to our stress, this posture helps us really feel calmer and extra assured.
We will study to get out of our personal means and let go of the stress that masks our pure poise.
One easy means I educate my purchasers to begin addressing this, is to alter the best way they take into consideration posture and what it means to be upright.
Do this:
First attempt to sit up proper now. Discover how that feels.
Now let that go and do that as a substitute:
With out wanting up, carry a delicate consciousness to the house above your head. Suppose to your self, “I’m free to note the house above me.”
That is only a thought – nothing extra. There’s nothing it’s essential to do to make something occur. Merely see in case you discover a change, and if that’s the case, whether or not it’s useful.
All of us reply in our personal technique to completely different phrases, so chances are you’ll not have the identical response as others. Having mentioned that, there are methods of expressing concepts that are usually extra useful than others.
I, and lots of of my purchasers, discover this concept useful, particularly when approached with as little attachment as attainable to any desired consequence. It’s a delicate, oblique technique to remind the physique that it may possibly take up extra space. It’s additionally an instance of one of many “Ideas for the Day” I’ve posted in my Fb group, the BodyIntelligence Group, not too long ago.
I’d love to listen to the way you reply to it, too. Please let me know within the feedback under.
If you happen to’d wish to study extra concerning the PhysiqueIntelligence strategy to posture, be part of my mailing checklist. You’ll obtain my free with 7 Tricks to Relieve Stress Now (and enhance your posture!)!
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