The first key to improving your posture is to pay attention to your body and notice where you feel strain or stiffness in your neck, back, shoulders or hips. These feelings can indicate poor posture. Once you know where your problem areas are, it will be easier to correct them. Also, just adjusting the position of your head helps pull your entire body into the correct position. Pull up from the crown of your head so your ears, shoulders and hips come into alignment.
Get Up and Go
Maintaining any position for too long causes you to collapse into bad posture, especially while you are seated. Get up to walk and stretch for a couple of minutes every half-hour.
Keep it Interesting
Vary your workout routine to include strength-training and flexibility exercises. Avoid over-exercising some muscles while neglecting others. Your entire body keeps you in proper alignment; strong, flexible muscles are essential to achieving good posture. Yoga is a great way to achieve both strength and flexibility.
Make it Work
Adjust your work area to be ergonomically correct. At a desk, make sure you have proper lumbar and wrist support. Sit with your feet flat on the floor to keep your back in the ideal position.
Stretch Out
Use stretches like chin glides and mid-back exercises to stretch out tight muscles in your neck and middle back. There are many stretches you can use, but don't do anything that causes pain.
Scan Again
Check your body often to make sure you are in the proper position. Increased body awareness lets you be more in tune with what your body needs to get into the right position for good posture.
