Posture

Anyone else here have terrible posture? I'm talking hunchback-style, here.

Someone once told me that having poor posture is usually due to weak abdominal muscles, which makes sence. I'm seriously one of the weakest people I know!

Posture can be improved by simply standing/sitting straighter and pressing the shoulders back ... you don't need strong abdominal muscles, you just need to consciously change the way you're sitting and standing rather than absent-mindedly slump forward.  All those things you've seen in old b/w films of 'debs' at finishing school are fun to try..... walking with books balanced on your head, for example.   Yoga, tai-chi... they're good too.

yoga helps immensely.

^ very true.

I never had the greatest posture, but after doing pilates (and occasionally yoga) for a while, I saw a big difference.

having good posture is also very slimming, plus you exersise core muscles a little bit.

There are things called posture bras. They help out through out the day.

Original Post by pgeorgian:

yoga helps immensely.

Yeah I used to have all sorts of kinks that I couldn't seem to work out.  I started doing Yoga about a year ago and they all went away.  That and I never thought I'd be able to do some of the things I can do now in the flexibility department.  

I'm the only guy in my class though and that feels kind of awkward.  That and I have to hide it from my room mates or they would have a grand old time harassing me.  :X

I'll put in another rec for yoga.  After doing it for only 2 weeks, if I inadvertently slipped into poor posture and slumped over, it actually felt weird and I immediately corrected myself.  You get great balance from it, too.