Stand Tall! Your Future Depends on It

Turns out when your parents told you to "stand up straight" they were right. Research is flowing in that there is an epidemic of "text neck" affecting young people today that is wreaking havoc on spines everywhere. This article in the Washington Post explains this real well.

But it's not just young people. Middle age folks like us who work at computers all day or are behind the wheel all day long can also injure our spine. And those of you in the post-middle age generation might already find yourself hunched over due to years of stress.

Well, I'm here to tell you it's not too late for any of us! Start improving your posture with this foundational yoga pose called, "Tadasana" or "Mountain Pose."

Start by being aware of what neutral spine is for you. Here's how:

1. Stand in front of a full length mirror and stand tall. Notice if your head is bent forward. Be sure to stack your head directly over neck, your shoulders, etc..

2. Be sure your feet are planted firmly on the ground with the all 4 corners of your feet touching the earth below.

3. Slightly bend your knees so you don't hurt your lower back.

4. Bend your torso forward slightly.

5. Come back to standing with legs straight.

6. Slightly bend your knees again and very carefully lean your torso back just a bit.

7. Now come back to center. This is your neutral spine.

8. Finally.. close your eyes and imagine a string pulling you up from the crown of your head. Ground your feet into the earth below. Drop your shoulders. Palms facing forward. Breath. Notice every part of your body from head to toe. How does it feel. Keep breathing and relax. After about 10 breaths slowly open your eyes. You have just stood in one of the most important Yoga postures called, "Tadasana" or Mountain Pose.

Now that you know what your body looks and feels like in good posture continue to check yourself throughout the day.. while you're at your computer, driving or talking to someone at the water cooler. After a while it should come naturally to you.

The world is a beautiful place. You'll have a better chance of taking it all in if you can stand tall with your eyes looking at the horizon instead of at the ground.

Side Note... Tadasana might be tough for some of you, because it exposes more of you. It forces you to open your heart and take in the world around you. Collapsing your chest or constantly looking down could also be signs that you're protecting yourself from the outside world. If this is uncomfortable for you, take some time to understand why. Perhaps even consider talking to a mental health professional about taking steps to overcoming it.

Phyllis Smith is Founder/CEO of Rejuvecise: Finding tranquility in every day life. She is a Yoga Instructor and Wellness Coach in the Dallas,Texas area. Contact Phyllis at Phyllis@Rejuvecise.com to learn more about how she can help you discover tranquility in your life.