addressing the posture problem

Posture is a complex adaptation to who you are, in other words, how you live, feel and think.

 It is important when addressing the problem of posture to understand that there is not 'good' or 'bad' posture or something to be 'fixed'. The task is to imagine how you wish to be and then transform yourself. 

If you are suffering with pain, worrying thoughts, lack of energy and motivation or confused about your purpose and meaning in life, your posture will reflect this in how you look. 

You can't solve the posture problem by "standing up straight". You must address the cause of your posture.

First problem to solve is understanding what mind is and tapping the immense power of the mind to transform your thinking. The problem of the mind is the personal belief that you are what you think. 

The skill of awareness meditation and mindfulness are proven techniques to address this problem.

People live stressful lifestyles which is reflected by posture. Tight muscles, fatigue, headaches, and negative moods can be a result of stress. 

Modern life demands that people are productive to acquire and maintain their possessions. This can result in an over-focus on work, subsequent lack of movement, prolonged sitting and over-eating. 

The problem of lifestyle behaviors can be addressed by aiming for balance which is taught in some Eastern philosophies such as Taoism and by practicing meditation, yoga and mindfulness. 

We think aging relates only to older people. But science has shown that we begin aging at birth, therefore everyone is aging. 

Advanced aging is obvious in the posture, and this appears as rounded shoulders, curved spine, head forward position, and difficult movement. Fortunately, the science surrounding aging offers us a strategy to stop and possibly reverse aging. 

Everything changes as you address the other three problems. Therefore, you can expect improvement over time. How quickly you experience this improvement will depend on your efforts. 

To be motivated and to gain increasing insight you should associate with like-minded people.  Join the yoga community by regular workshops and classes and learn from the instructors. 

Learn more about how four major affectors influence our posture.