6 Poses for Better Posture
Use these yoga poses to improve your posture.
Are you a wearer of slumped shoulders? Do you find yourself slouching often, or maybe you don’t even realize you’re doing it? You’re not alone. With all of the desk-sitting and smart phone-using in today’s world, poor posture has become quite common. It’s important to correct improper posture if you have it to avoid more serious back, neck, and shoulder problems down the road. When you have good posture, you not only appear poised and confident, but you actually feel better, too!
The six yoga moves below will help you to improve your posture and turn those hunched shoulders around in no time.
Chaturanga
Image Source: Fredy SoberanisStart in plank pose. Reach back through heels, engage navel to spine, and soften through elbows, reaching them straight back until forearms graze the sides of ribcage. Find your long spine, and keep a slight chin tuck. Breathe here for 5 to 10 deep breaths.
Supported Fish
Image Source: ShutterstockStart by being seated with knees bent and feet on the ground, hip-width apart. Place one yoga block behind you where you think your shoulder blades will rest when you lie back and place the other where you think your head will rest comfortably. Gently release back onto the shoulder block so that shoulder blades are just above the block (the block will be at middle back just grazing the bottom of shoulder blades). Release head to the second block so that it is comfortable for neck, adjusting the block height as needed. Allow arms to relax on either side of you, lengthen your legs, and breathe here for 5 to 10 deep breaths.
Locust
Image Source: Fredy SoberanisStart by lying facedown on mat, big toes together. Clasp hands behind sacrum. Use a big inhale to lift chest and feet off the ground. Breathe here for 5 to 10 deep breaths.
Sphinx Pose
Image Source: Fredy SoberanisStart by lying on your stomach with big toes together and arms on either side of body. Place elbows underneath shoulders, forearms parallel to one another. Pull chest forward between arms as you press shoulders down and together on back. Lightly press pelvis into the ground. Breathe here for 5 to 10 deep breaths.
Bow Pose
Image Source: Fredy SoberanisStart by lying facedown. Bend knees and grab ankles with hands. Press feet away from head, ankles into hands, keeping knees hip-width apart, and lift chest off the ground. Stay here for 5 to 10 deep breaths.
L-Handstand with Wall Support
Image Source: Fredy SoberanisMeasure a leg’s distance away from the wall to determine where to put hands on the ground. Face away from the wall on all fours. Place hands shoulder-width apart on the ground where you measured your leg distance. Walk feet up the wall until body forms an “L” position, letting head fall toward the ground. Try to line up shoulders and wrists as best as you can; hips will move beyond them. Stay here for 5 to 10 deep breaths.
