Is Bad Posture Really Bad?

We hear a lot about ‘good’ and ‘bad’ posture.

Slouching is bad! Stand up straight!

What’s critical to understand about posture is that it’s simply how you hold your body in any position, whether it’s slouched or perfectly upright, and being in any one position for a really long time is not advantageous to you.

Where we envision ‘bad’ posture as slouching comes from the fact that due to our environment (cell phones, computers, desks) we tend to be in that posture more than others.

However, think about it this way: if you were to stand up straight in what people envision to be ‘good’ posture all day long, how do you think you’d feel after maybe even an hour?

You probably wouldn’t feel so great either. Your spine would likely be really stiff from not moving, maybe your feet would bother you.

The huge takeaway here is to be aware of your posture (how you’re holding your body), and to move! If you’re sitting for a long period, get up every once in a while and move around.

If you’re working on a computer, change positions (stand, kneel on the ground, sit on the ground). 

If you’re standing for a while, change positions (sitting is okay, we just don’t want to be doing it all day long!)

‘Bad’ posture only happens when we are in any one position for longer than our bodies want to be in!

Remember: our bodies are meant to move!