Bad posture!

kathryn

kathryn

Cathlete
Do you see it a lot?
Do you notice it a lot?
Does it make you cringe?

I stayed overnight in a Chicago hotel for a conference presentation, and since the hotel was very pricey, I vowed to not only grab all the shampoo and coffee and other freebies (I don't use them, but give them to my colleagues) but to make use of the free-to-guests fitness center.

While I was working out, a woman came in to check out the center (looking around to see what was there before she decided on her plan of action, just like I had done). She was slim, but her shoulders rolled forward terribly! My first instinct was to go over to her and suggest some exercises that would help with posture (I know it probably wouldn't be a welcome suggestion, but it was SOO tempting).

She went back to the front of the center, where the cardio equipment is, and I didn't see her until I left, about 20 minutes later. There she was, on a stationay bike, leaning forward on the handlebars, her back rounded into a "C" shape. (This time, I was "REALLY" tempted to go and talk to her...but I refrained.)

I made sure for the rest of my stay that my posture was perfect!!
 
Hi Kathryn,

I began practicing pilates 3 years ago - and before that time my posture was quite bad - I would where high heals and would stoop over a bit... I would roll my shoulders when I sat... I had no idea I was doing any of this - until a kind older lady I worked with pointed it out....and every time she saw me walking funny - she would round her shoulders so that I would get the hint that I was doing it...

Beginning pilates for me - has made a world of difference - I no longer slouch in my chair - and walk with my shoulders back now.. I am naturally conscience of when I slouch or stoop now... But had that kindly lady not pointed it out to me... I would never have known...

Yes - I do notice when others have bad posture....It doesn't make me cringe - but I more sympathize bc in my mind I wonder if those people will end up with back problems.
 
I hear you, Kathryn. Want to look younger? Work on and constantly be aware of your posture. #1 age defyer. My grandma, at age 91 still has beautiful posture and looks very nice in her clothes. Very slim and with broad shoulders.

Where I work, there are lots of middle aged women like me. However, the vast majority look physically inactive (though they may be active, it just doesn't look it to me). Very thick middles, poor posture and "dowdy" and soft. I refuse to go there, ever, if I possibly can help it.

I ride bikes with some very fit, older men. One of them is aged 73 and he can really kick butt on the bike! He has the posture and self carriage of a young man. In fact, when he's on the bike, I really have to look to see who he is. He is an example of what I want to be when I get older.


Jeanette
 
It's funny you posted this today--I was considering starting a thread on posture! I've been noticing other people's posture lately, too because I've been making an effort to improve mine. Working out with weights has really made me more conscious of not rolling my shoulders--but I struggle with it all the time. It's an old, bad habit that's extremely difficult to break. For one thing, I have a big chest, and pulling my shoulders back makes me feel like I'm sticking out my breasts, which makes me extremely self-conscious and shy. Second, I wonder *how much* I should be pulling my shoulders back--it's hard to tell.

Funny thing--at work the other day, I noticed that most of the young women had terrific posture, while most of the older women had rounded shoulders. I wonder if there's a connection somehow?
 
I'm starting to notice it alot in kids. My DD's friend constantly stands kinda slumped w/rounded shoulders... and I just want to run over to her and readjust her. It's amazing how much posture can affect the way you look. Even as I sit here typing on the computer, I'm trying to sit up tall and not slump in the chair. I think it's definitely something you have to work on.
 
Isn't it amazing what good posture can do for you? It makes you look younger and it also makes you look more in shape and fit.

Last summer, while at the beach, I noticed the bad posture on so many women. I thought to myself, about many of them, if they would just pull their shoulders back and stand up straight, they'd look 5 lbs lighter and 10 years younger.

I have a good friend who has recently lost about 30 lbs. She wasn't vastly overweight to begin with, but it was good for her to shed the weight. The only problem is that now she looks so much older because she is slumping. I don't think she had excellent posture before the weight loss, but now it's even worse. I'm not sure why. If she would stand up straight, she'd look marvelous.

I wish more women understood the power of good posture!
 
I started Pilates for the same reason...I was a major sloucher. I am not anywhere near what I used to be and to this day I mentally have to keep myself in check!!! It is so easy to forget. One of the reasons I enjoy the TLT DVDs is so many of the exercises focus on the back and posture.

There are also people who through no fault of their own are born with a deformity of the spine and even with tons of exercise cannot straighten the upper area of their backs. I have two relatives with this condition.

Robin
 
>There are also people who through no fault of their own are born >with a deformity of the spine and even with tons of exercise cannot >straighten the upper area of their backs. I have two relatives with >this condition.


My grandmother dealt with a genetic spinal problem and was very slumped in her latter years. I am thankful I am physically able to have good posture. It's amazing what we can take for granted. So many chronic back problems are brought about by poor posture.

And BTW Robin, the pilates, I love it!:)
 
Robin, I agree with what you said about people being born wih a deformity of the spine, I never have been able to lay with my lower back flat to the floor. which causes my upper back to have a curve to it, I just have to stand as straight as possible, but you can see the slight forward tilt to my shoulders, and it tends to get worse when I am tired.

Rhonda
 
Must be something in the water because i have really been noticing posture a lot this past week!

I think very often poor posture is a sign of physical insecurity...like they are trying to hide something. If you slump forward, you hide the pot belly..tuck it in. Little do they realize, it makes everything look way worse...pot belly and all! If you see a tall person rounding their shoulder, often they are subconciously trying to "shrink" themselves down to the size of their peers.
 
>I think very often poor posture is a sign of physical
>insecurity...like they are trying to hide something. If you
>slump forward, you hide the pot belly..tuck it in. Little do
>they realize, it makes everything look way worse...pot belly
>and all! If you see a tall person rounding their shoulder,
>often they are subconciously trying to "shrink" themselves
>down to the size of their peers.

And I wonder how many adolescent girls start developing bad posture when they start developing breasts. When you do stand with good posture, it does make your chest stick out, and even though it may not be much, one can be so self-conscious of it at that age, I know I was.

One thing this encounter did for me was motivate me to add some TLT posture exercises to the workout I was doing!
 
How interesting that this subject should come up. I have really bad posture myself. Even when I stand up as straight as possible, as in against a wall, my shoulders round forward considerably. My grandmother was built exactly the same way, so I'm certain it's a hereditary trait.

I'm looking for exercises that will help in this area. Not surprisingly, I am very weak when I do rear delts. Although I do 5s and 8s for front raises and laterals, I can barely do 3s for rear delts, and I don't seem to improve. I try to go heavier and have for ages, but I lose my form after just one or two reps, even with 4s.

I don't seem to have trouble with lats. I usually use 30s for one-armed rows, although I have never been able to do anything even faintly resembling a pull-up, or even hanging from the bar more than about three seconds. I wonder if these things are related?

I also wonder if this shoulder weakness has anything to do with why both push-ups and bench press wear out my shoulders before they even touch my chest. I'm always careful never to go lower than the bench, so I don't think that's it.

So, any suggestions on what I can/should do to improve posture and shoulder weaknesses?

Thanks,
Shari
 
>I'm looking for exercises that will help in this area. Not
>surprisingly, I am very weak when I do rear delts. Although I
>do 5s and 8s for front raises and laterals, I can barely do 3s
>for rear delts, and I don't seem to improve. I try to go
>heavier and have for ages, but I lose my form after just one
>or two reps, even with 4s.

I recommend at least temporarily NOT doing front raises (the front shoulder gets well worked during chest work) and doing rear shoulder work first in the shoulder segment of your workouts. Go as light as necessary to have great form (and not allow other muscles to help), and work slowly and methodically, making those muscles do the work and not letting momentum help.

Also make sure that you do 1 more set (at least) of back work than chest work, and stretch the chest and front shoulder well.

(This is the advice I would have liked to share with the woman!)
You might want to consider getting TLT's. They have some excellent postural work throughout, especially Strength in Movement with Jen Carman and Finding your Core with Susan Harris.
 
My Father did so many wonderful things for us, one of the things that he gently and consistently did was make sure that we had good posture as we were growing up. I am so grateful to him for this, especially as my body goes through the inevitable aging process. When I went back to College in 2001 I was surrounded by 20-25 year olds. After I became friends with my classmates I was told that at first they referred to me as the 'older lady with the great posture', I often hear this from participants when I teach and I always whisper a little thanks to my darling Dad!:)

I agree with Sarah, you can learn a lot from some people by their posture. I have a wonderful SIL who has an amazing personality but constantly assumes a curled in 'pay-no-attention-to-me' type posture, I am always struck at how her posture belies the vibrant, funny, compassionate woman that she truly is.

Take Care
Laurie:)

p.s. Kathryn, I can't resist any longer, I'm diving in for some TLT. I looked at the reviews and am thinking BBBB and MFE. Nice to have something different and effective. Thanks.
 
Laurie,

What specifically did your dad do to teach you good posture? I'd like to know, because I really want to ensure my girls learn it. I keep enrolling Paris in gymnastics because I think it helps develop great core strength and posture. But what can I do at home to help out?

Thanks!
Sandra
 
>Quote by Kathryn,
>And I wonder how many adolescent girls start developing bad
>posture when they start developing breasts. When you do stand
>with good posture, it does make your chest stick out, and even
>though it may not be much, one can be so self-conscious of it
>at that age, I know I was.



That's exactly what I was thinking. Be it that they are self-conscious of a big chest or flat chest. You also see girls with head forward and hair covering their faces and folding their arms. You see alot more girls with bad posture, compared to boys with bad posture at that age.

Oh, how the world would change if we could help young girls to love themselves and not 'constantly' worry about what others are thinking of them.
So sad.
 
Hey Sandra:) Oddly enough most of my memories of what he did specifically are during Mass. When we would be in line for Communion, Mom was first, Dad was last, if I was in front of him he might put his hands on my shoulders and gently pull them back or he might press the pad of his thumb into my sacrum, I didn't know it then but both of these things made me stand better. He taught a lot by example, he always walked and stood tall and proud (but not cocky). When I looked up at him standing so tall I wanted to stand like him and stood taller myself. I wish I could ask him if 'My Fair Lady' was his favourite movie because I remember us all being silly a few times and walking around the living room with a book on our head saying the 'the rain in Spain....', it's silly but it was fun. Those are a few things I remember, I think most of it was instilled in us at such a young age that it was like second nature. I know that now with my Kids when I adjust and sit straighter they just kind of follow suit. I talk to the Girls a lot about posture because of my work and my Dad's influence, it so important. My 3 Girls have good posture and I know that my Dad would be as pleased as I am I about that.HTH:)

Take Care
Laurie
 
>And I wonder how many adolescent girls start developing bad
>posture when they start developing breasts. When you do stand
>with good posture, it does make your chest stick out, and even
>though it may not be much, one can be so self-conscious of it
>at that age, I know I was.

This is something that I have battled all of my life and is the root of my bad posture, actually.
 
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