Fixing poor posture?

Magus`

As I've mentioned in other threads, I'm 6' 7". Ever since I was (x) age, I've not been able to stand up perfectly straight without feeling like their significant pressure on my spine and on (very rare) occasions a shortness of breath.

I've been to the chiropractor and they say I have a slight curve in my spine. I'm trying to actively not slouch but besides the aforementioned physical problems, I'm so used to slouching that I have to make such a conscious effort not to do so that I almost become distracted.

Is there anything I can do in my free time? Perhaps some stretching or whatnot? I might add that I can sit up straight in a chair (or on a wall, or something supportive) with no trouble, it's just when I'm standing and especially when I'm walking.

Thanks in advance.

Johannen

Magus` wrote: »

As I've mentioned in other threads, I'm 6' 7". Ever since I was (x) age, I've not been able to stand up perfectly straight without feeling like their significant pressure on my spine and on (very rare) occasions a shortness of breath.

I've been to the chiropractor and they say I have a slight curve in my spine. I'm trying to actively not slouch but besides the aforementioned physical problems, I'm so used to slouching that I have to make such a conscious effort not to do so that I almost become distracted.

Is there anything I can do in my free time? Perhaps some stretching or whatnot? I might add that I can sit up straight in a chair (or on a wall, or something supportive) with no trouble, it's just when I'm standing and especially when I'm walking.

Thanks in advance.

I'm average height (5ft10) and all the men in my family, starting from my grandfather on my fathers side, have a slight curvature in our spine. the best thing to do is get yourself set up in a training routine, and if you can afford it a personal trainer. If you buy yourself an inflatable exercise ball (one of the strong rubber ones) you should do Y's, T's, and L's using the exercise ball as a base.

Go to a gym and get an instructor to show you the proper way to do it, even if it's just the one time and you can go from there. These exercises are known to significantly help with posture problems when done regularly and properly.

other than that get yourself back to the chiropracter and ask him what he thinks you should do. if it's giving you trouble breathing you might need to be sorted by a physio.

ViolentChemistry

Okay, this may sound silly, but if you drive a car with bucket-seats, just make sure you're all the way in the seat. Like, back fully against the seatback, ass all the way back in the seat, the back-rest set at an angle where you don't have to or want to hunch your shoulders forward. This has done wonders for my back, it had actually started not really hurting but feeling shitty when I was 19/20. That's just one thing, though, and it's only really good if you spend a lot of time in the car. My other trick won't help you. See, I'm short, and have a bit of a Napoleon-complex, so just straightening up and being a little taller is a total ego-buzz for me.

Sharp10r

As an undergrad Music (voice) Major, my voice teacher had a four-year uphill climb with me. I came in with awful posture I had habitually used being uncomfortable with my height. Basically, all of the wrong muslces were developed, so standing straight was uncomfortable and difficult. However, over the first year, he bugged me so much, made me so aware of it, I was able to stand up straight all the time in the music building. (He and other students he gave the mission to would correct me in the hallways.) By year four it was natural and the right muscles were developed. So find a way to stay aware of it.

Dr. Frenchenstein

if you drive/sit a lot, it's a perfect way to train yourself to sit up straight. get a relatively small, cyllindrical pillow, and place that in the small of your back when you are sitting down. Make sure your shoulders/upper back are touching the back of the seat, and voila, good posture. It takes a while before it feels natural, but when given the option of putting the top of your head through the sunroof and good posture, you're kind of forced to do it right.

Theungry

Start taking yoga. It will do wonders for your both your posture and shortness of breath. Do some research on what types are available in your area. Stay away from "Hot" or "power" yoga as a beginner. Iyengar would be the best for posture, but its more rare outside of metropolitan areas. No matter what, you're best off with a teacher you feel comfortable with over a style that sounds good on paper.