Well
at Work in Today's Health & Wellness
The Posture of Success-Walking tall improved image and confidence
By Pam Mellskog
When it comes to good posture, short people may be the ones
most needing to stand tall. But with her 5'2" frame,
Pamela Redmond says that "walking like you own the world"
takes self-awareness and practice.
She knew she had posture problems early on, but just never
knew how to address them. For instance, her stepfather once
told her when she was in junior high that her posture was
so poor it looked like she would tip forward and fall flat
on her face. Her shoulders slumped and she walked without
exuding a strong sense of purpose into middle age.
"That posture made me feel even shorter," explains
Redmond, now an executive director of finance for a large
insurance company in Indianapolis, Indiana. "It was saying
something different about me at work than what I wanted to
say."
Follow the leader
To change that message, at age 45 she hired Barbara McRae,
M.C.C. (Master Certified Coach), president of EnhancedLife
Coaching in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Better posture benefits
everyone at work -- not just executives -- for both physical
and mental reasons.
Physically, poor posture puts unnecessary pressure on muscles,
ligaments, bones, joints and internal organs. Not surprisingly,
many neck and back problems originate from poor posture and
body alignment, which can affect on-the-job performance.
Exercising, losing weight, getting more sleep and eating
a more balanced diet will zap a number of posture problems
stemming from fatigue. However, in all cases, the most effective
treatment begins mentally by developing better body awareness.
Redmond says it helps to find posture role models. For instance,
she and her coach studied Good Morning America's television
host Diane Sawyer. Watching her work -- how she sat, held
her hands and walked -- proved enlightening.
It soon became apparent to Redmond that some of Sawyer's
success on camera had nothing to do with what she said and
everything to do with how she conducted herself physically.
Confidence is key
"My clients need to see themselves differently before
they actually change their posture," McRae explains.
In her program, that means looking at confidence issues and
attitude as compared to such role models.
However, the evaluation can be a chicken-and-egg situation.
Redmond says better posture gives her more confidence around
her staff, and that confidence starts from within. Yet, the
coaching process has taught her that though a kernel of confidence
inside takes time to grow, it can show up sooner on the outside
after taking inventory and conscientiously checking posture
throughout the day.
"My coach tells me that I don't have to completely believe
it to do it, to stand taller," Redmond says. She adds
that kind of posturing is a positive one that exudes the kind
of confidence and competence she seeks to present to others
on the clock and off.
Posture tune-up
Is your posture in A+ shape? If not, start improving by taking
a look in the mirror for an alignment check. Are your shoulders
turned in and facing down toward the floor? Is your upper
back rounding forward? From the side, are your ears in front
of (instead of directly above) your shoulders?
If so, consider the Four Points of Posture Program developed
by Ken Baldwin, owner of Premier Fitness Inc. in Cambridge,
Mass.
- Stand as tall as possible and face a mirror. Imagine someone
is pulling a string from the top of your head that attaches
at the base of your back. Adjust your posture accordingly
and observe the improvements.
- Pull your shoulders back as if you were trying to hold
a pencil between your shoulder blades. Keep your neck area
loose and your arms relaxed along the sides of your body.
- Hold your chest up high while standing tall with your
shoulder blades "Christmas tree" slant.
- This muscle flexion may cause your body to lean too far
back from your waist. To bring your hips into proper alignment,
simply contract your abdominal muscles.
"Posture is a first impression people have of you and
first impressions are lasting impressions," Redmond reminds.
While better posture won't add inches to Redmond's short
stature, she feels more confident that it will improve her
outlook, attitude and image. That's something she says is
worth working on.
[sidebar] The Two-pronged Fork of Poor Posture
Posture issues fall into two categories: structural and positional.
Structural posture problems often stem from or lead to permanent
anatomical deformities requiring medical attention. However,
more commonly poor posture results from positional causes
that can be changed through a combination of self-awareness
and appropriate behavior modification. Positional causes include:
- poor postural habits (e.g. slouching)
- low self-esteem
- self-consciousness
- stress
- fatigue
- pain that prompts avoidance postures
- muscle imbalances
- general weakness
- excess body weight
- poor nutrition
- foot problems
Pam Mellskog is a freelance writer living in Boulder, Colorado.
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