Posture
Why do we care about posture?
"No slouching!", my mother's voice could be heard from time to time as she reminded my siblings and me to correct our posture. My mind would race to try to figure out what the big deal was all about as I wasn't falling over. Why was our posture so important to our mother?
Lately, with more time spent on my electronic devices for work and pleasure, I have found myself reflecting on my mother's words. Is my posture taking a beating? Do I need to pay more attention to it than I have been doing? Anyone who has been enrolled in a Finishing School knows the importance that is placed on good posture. But, does the good posture we place a great deal on having any benefits other than helping us look more confident?
I decided to look outside the etiquette world for a different perspective. Some of the findings were rather intriguing, such as the negative effect poor posture can have on mood and sleep, its increase on the possibility of heartburn, and slow digestion. Not surprisingly, headaches, difficulty breathing and neck pain were also listed as side effects of poor posture.
If good posture is so important, how then do we achieve it?
It is common practice to walk with a book on one’s head when working on improving one’s posture. When my Finishing School instructor announced to my classmates and me that we were going to be working on our posture, I expected to be strolling around with a book on my head. To my surprise, we each had to walk down a flight of stairs balancing a china teacup. Never have I been so conscious of the alignment of my spine! During the exercise, my biggest concern was getting to the landing with the delicate teacup still safely on my head. What a challenging and fun exercise it was!
With research showing that good posture increases our ability to breathe deeply and improve our mood, I think it is worth our while to work on it (if our health allows). Fans of fashion will be happy to know that our clothing drapes even more nicely when our shoulders are parallel with the hips. This is why models look good in anything at fashion shows!
I’ve also heard arguments that being able to stand and sit up straight is a trick only people of noble birth come by easily. This notion is not true. It is something that can be learned and we all can reap the benefits of it.
Our body language through our posture can communicate feelings about ourselves, others and a social situation we are in. This is why a slouch can give the message that we don’t feel confident or just want to be left alone, whereas standing or sitting up straight can tell people that we are comfortable and confident in our current social setting. Let us all think of this when we are out and about and use our posture to accurately send the message, we would want those around us to receive.
Was my mother aware of these studies, or were her concerns from a more social background? Either way, she helped me walk more confidently and gain health benefits in the process! I appreciate that my mother insisted on good posture whatever her reasons were.
Mother truly knows best!
