Monday, March 13, 2006

Your goal from reading this blog is to become aware of your body, your thoughts and your emotions. How can you change anything without becoming aware? Let's begin today's post with posture.

Check your posture. Place your heels against a blank wall or a door or a door jam. Place your buttocks, the mid part of your back, and the back of you head against the wall, door or door jam. Are your ears and eyes level or is your head tilted back? Does it hurt or is it uncomfortable? Ideally you can do this without pain or discomfort. If you do experience pain or discomfort, your posture needs work. Simply do the wall/door exercise on a regular basis and you will feel a difference.

If you have a full length mirror, look at yourself in the mirror and notice if your shoulder joints, hip joints, knee joints, and ankle joints are stacked on top of each other in a straight line. Then turn 90 degrees from the mirror and see if your ear, shoulder, hip, knee and ankle are in a straight line. If you are congratulations! If not you have work to do.

On a regular basis, stand against the wall as described above. You can also lie on your back flat on the floor. Again, if you feel pain or discomfort be gentle and do this slowly. Once you can lie flat without pain or discomfort, put a small pillow under your back and lie on the floor. Listen to your body. If a small pillow is too much, use a rolled up towel. Your goal is to be able to lie on a pillow or pillows without pain or discomfort.

Since I began checking my posture, my overall health has improved and I can move freely with a greater range of motion. It also feels really good.

If you work on your posture on a regular schedule and listen to your body for any signals of pain or discomfort, you will reap the rewards of better health and motion.