How Can You Tell if You Have Good Posture vs Bad Posture

Good Posture vs Bad Posture: Standing Position

When standing, a good posture will have the head in the midline in line with, and on top of the shoulders.  On the other hand, having your head held forward of the shoulders or being tilted to one side is bad posture.

Good posture will have the chin tucked in without poking or jutting forward. The shoulders are relaxed and the bottom tucked in. Hunch shoulders, sticking out bottoms, are characteristic of bad postures in the standing position.

The individual has to be able to stand with their feet slightly apart and in line with the shoulders.  Total body weight also has to be equally divided because a failure, in this case, will cause the spine to tilt or curve sideways.

Good Posture vs Bad Posture: Sitting Position

To maintain a good sitting posture, you have to sit with the chin tucked in and the shoulders relaxed. The hips, knees, and ankles are also to be at right angles with the thighs in level with the knees.

You don’t want to poke the chin forward or sit with hunch shoulders. That is bad!

A good sitting posture will also have the head in the midline, the same way it would usually be in the standing position.  However, maintaining a good posture is not limited to sitting and standing alone.

It extends farther into the way you walk, the way you lie down, etc.  In all of these, it is important that you understand how necessary it is to keep the spine straight and in line.

1.      Wall Angel

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The wall angel exercise is exceptionally good at strengthening the back and improving body posture.

If you’re looking for some of the best exercises to improve posture, then this is it!

• You begin by standing with your back against the wall

• The wrists and elbows, head and shoulders, the back, rear, and heels should all touch the wall

• Raise your hands slowly till they are over your head

• Lower your hands till they are even with your shoulders

• Ensure these remain against the wall, and repeat like five to ten times

2.     The Doorway Stretch

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This exercise is another great one even if you’ve tried and failed at other ways on how to fix your posture.

There are several types of doorway stretches and all of these will greatly help to improve your posture even if done for five minutes daily.

Any of the doorway lats stretch, doorway hamstring stretch, rotator cuff doorway stretch, one-arm doorway stretch, or the doorway lower back stretch would work just fine.

These simple doorway stretches will easily help release tension and tightness to help correct poor posture and improve your body’s flexibility.

3.     The Corner Stretch

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The corner stretch helps to improve chest flexibility and if you’re looking for the best posture exercises to improve posture and alignment, you’ll find this particular routine very useful.

• Find a clear corner in your room where two walls meet

• Face the corner with your arms up on the wall at 90

• Inhale and pull your shoulders down gently and press your forearms against the wall

• Exhale and then step forward with your right foot lunging towards the corner

• Lift the chest and eye up a bit while you bring your body forward through your arms

• Stay here, breathe, bring your shoulders down, lift your chest a bit and exhale, then reach towards the corner

• Breathe 3 to 5 times, take a step back, and release. Repeat these all over again starting with the left foot

4.   Chest Opener

The chest opener is a simple exercise but it actually is one of the best posture correction exercises you can easily use to correct posture.

• You just sit or stand tall with your arms right in front of you, palm to palm

• You then start to inhale and draw your arms out and back

• Take in some deep breaths and you’ll feel your chest and shoulders opening up

• Squeeze the shoulder blades and then repeat over again

 Its simplicity makes it very practical and can be done whether you’re at home or at work. It certainly deserves your attention if you’re looking for how to fix your posture.