Posture is usually defined as the alignment of body parts, especially the spine and shoulders. Postural muscles maintain positioning of the body while you sit, stand and move. While true, this definition misses a deeper understanding of posture as an expression not only of the body, but also of the whole person. This means that how you breathe, how you use your eyes, your hands and feet, and how you feel about your surroundings all contribute to the balance and ease of your posture.

Better posture automatically makes you look younger and thinner. And having good posture affects not only how others see you, but your own self-confidence. Back pain, neck pain, and the body’s tendency to “shrink with age” all result from poor posture. None of these is inevitable and all can be reversed. Building good posture can be life changing.