Posture is Beauty

 Having a good posture is EVERYTHING. It’s essential to looking amazing in photos, and it’s essential to looking amazing in life. It is the foundation of your beauty. A good posture makes you appear taller, younger and more graceful, confident and composed. More importantly, it keeps you from having annoying back and neck pains from poor posture. Not only can good posture make you look better, it can also make you feel better. It takes more than a well arched eyebrow, perfectly glossed lips and high cheek bones to radiate beauty. Even that renowned little black dress wouldn’t look so good if your posture is wrong; remember the saying “It’s not what you wear but how you wear it”. In fact, good posture will do more to keep you looking youthful as the years go by than a face-lift or Botox. Unfortunately, the constant downward pull of gravity, the inevitable effects of aging and other unavoidable factors, cause us to gradually hunch our shoulders and slouch instead of standing or walking up straight. The good news, however, is that this can be corrected with regular practice and some caution. Changing your posture and the way you walk is no ‘piece of cake,’ but it is achievable. You may straighten yourself in front of the mirror before stepping out, but somewhere along the way you lose track and before long, you’re slouching again. Remember it has to be a conscious effort, and it takes practice.

Correct Standing Posture

When standing, keep your head up, shoulders back and eyes looking straight ahead. Keep your shoulders back and aligned and use your stomach muscles to keep your body straighter. If you are standing correctly, your ears, shoulders, hips and ankles should all be in a vertical line. Pull your stomach and you will automatically straighten out. Be careful not to push your shoulders up instead of back, get your shoulders right by crossing your hands back and holding on to the opposite elbows. Practice standing straight by standing with your back against a door or wall, with the back of your head, your shoulders, and your butt just touching it.

Accurate Walking Posture

Walking with good posture is simply an extension of standing with good posture. While walking, keep your chin parallel to the ground, hit the ground with the heel of your foot first, and then roll onto your toes. Keep your stomach and buttocks in line with the rest of the body and do not arch your back or look down at your feet, instead, look several feet ahead of you. The best way to practice walking straight at home is by balancing some books on your head. This sets your body into alignment, controls the bounce and gives your walk grace.

Proper Sitting Posture

Sit up straight! Keep your head straight, not titled up or down, and keep your shoulders back; and try to relax. Place both feet firmly flat on the floor with your knees slightly lower than your hips. If you work at a desk, align your back with the back of the office chair. This will help you avoid slouching or leaning forward, which you may find yourself doing after sitting too long at your desk. Do not tuck your feet under your chair or cross your legs above the knees. If you are sitting correctly, your ears should be directly in-line with your shoulders which are in line with your hips.

Posture Exercises

Cultivate your beauty by incorporating yoga or other similar exercise such as stretches into your daily routine and build and maintain proper posture. In addition to physical exercises, constantly remind yourself to straighten your back, it may take some will power at first, but soon, it will become habitual. Stretching exercises for back muscles and abdomen are especially good for you, so challenge yourself! Even if you are overweight, improving your posture will make a big difference in how you look; standing taller will make you look slimmer, younger and feel more confident. You do not have to be particularly young for this to work either, it works for everyone. Learning how to stand and walk correctly will make you more attractive.

Finally, remember that the way you carry yourself says a lot about your personality. If you squirm and slouch your way around, it shows your lack of confidence and you end up looking and feeling less beautiful than you could be. And if you don’t feel you are beautiful, then why would anyone else? So, stand tall, pull your stomach in, hold your head high and throw your shoulders back. (But please, do not stick your chest out!) And you could become the very personification of elegance. Start practicing good posture today.

By: Akaomachi B.