Here’s a fact. Most Americans don’t think about their posture until they develop achy backs or they get to see a photo of themselves slouched over a family party table. But the fact is that how you are sitting, standing, or moving through life isn’t just about looking good for the annual family photo. Your posture actually is the basis for how you feel, both in your mind and your body. And, you guessed it, the reverse is also true.
Dr. Livingston sees it all. The patients who come in with their shoulders slumped and their heads down, and by the end of the appointment they’re floating out the door. It seems like magic, but it’s not. It’s all about the connection between your spine and your state of mind.
Here is the break- down for you. When you’re sitting at your desk, try this: straighten your back, roll your shoulders back, and lift your head. Now, take a deep breath. Don’t you feel differently? This isn’t a trick of the imagination. Research has shown that “power posing” will actually boost your confidence, lower your stress hormones, and bring more positivity into your day.
Now, let’s take a look a t the flip side: when you’re feeling stressed or depressed your body tends to curl in on itself, and make itself smaller. First your chest collapses and then your spine rounds. Before long, you’re carrying the weight of the world on your shoulders – literally. Your habitual slouch isn’t simply a bad habit – “it’s your mood showing up in your muscles.”
But Integrated Health Associates does have some good news. This mood/spine relationship can work both ways. Although feeling awful can drag your body down, standing tall actually sends “happy signals” to your brain. Aha! An internal switch has been flipped! Dr. Livingston sees patients walk in feeling exhausted. When they leave there’s a bounce in their steps. This change happens because they’ve learned how to hold themselves differently.
At Integrated Health Associates we love helping people find their spark again. Your appointment can begin with a gentle adjustment that sometimes includes a tip about how to sit at your computer without feeling and looking like a pretzel. Sometimes, you’ll be coached on learning how to move: “take a walk, stretch, breathe, and see how your body responds.”
Think of Dr. Livingston, and the next time you realize you are slouching, straighten up, take a breath, and see how your mood changes. You’ll be pleasantly surprised to see the lift you get – both emotionally and physically.
For some ground-breaking help in finding your best posture and your best mood, call Integrated Health Associates at 440-528-0005 #1. Our goal is to help you stand taller both inside and out.