As we’ve mentioned, posture is about movement and being able to center your body in a position that encourages flexibility. Forget standing in an incredibly awkward, straight position. Each body is different, and discovering the best posture for your body type will vary.

Check out the posture infographic to learn more about posture dos and don’ts and how to achieve the right position for you.

[Infographic Via]

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1. Never slouch or slump to achieve good posture.
This claim is false (we told you you’d be surprised). If you only sit or stand in a straight, usually unnatural, position, you’re not allowing your body to experience a full range of motion. Good posture supports the ability of easy, fluid movement, and flexing into a slouch gives you more freedom to easily change positions. Just make sure not to sit in that position too long, posture is about movement.

2. Crossing your legs leads to varicose veins.
False! Although this claim isn’t entirely true, it does lead to negative side effects. Crossing your legs can lead to lower back pain. And when you cross your legs it leads to increased pressure and locks your body into a fixed position.

3. Stand or sit straight to achieve good posture.
Wrong. Standing or sitting straight up to achieve proper alignment is actually doing nothing for you. It’s fixing the body in one position, without allowing room for movement. You’re familiar with the position: shoulders pushed back at attention, spine overly extended, and the face contorted into apparent discomfort. Posture is dynamic, so you can be ready to move in any direction at a moment’s notice. Bad posture is fixed, uncomfortable and unnatural.

4. Bad posture causes scoliosis.
There has never been a study linking bad posture to scoliosis. Scoliosis stems from unknown causes.

5. There’s only good and bad posture.
The idea of bad posture leads to people locking themselves in that uncomfortable position described in Number 3. Then movement completely stops and you’re stuck in one position. That position doesn’t set the standard for what’s good and what’s bad. Posture should instead be viewed as an idea without hard rules. The human body is different, so finding an individual position that encourages movement and comfort will vary for everyone.

6. Sitting at a computer all day ruins posture.
Fact. Beyond adversely affecting your health, sitting does cause bad posture. It causes your neck to strain and shoulders to hunch, but worst of all, it keeps you in a fixed position. Make sure to keep adjusting and moving in your chair during the day, or you can opt for standing up (which we highly recommend).

So instead of remaining in your chair all day, get up and move! You don’t have to awkwardly march to the water cooler with straight shoulders and a straight spine, just move. Saunter over to your coworker’s desk for a chat instead of sending an email, or walk around the block during lunch. Stand and stretch behind your desk every so often to encourage the most important quality of posture: Movement.

[Via Huffington Post and Ladies Home Journal]

The post Bad Posture Myths Revealed appeared first on Xdesk Blog.

It’s time to start thinking about improving your posture, but this time we have a few tips on maintaining good habits that won’t have you getting strange looks from coworkers.

Take Time to Reflect

• Instead of staring out your office window, use it as a mirror to check out your posture. Figure out what’s keeping you out of line. Slouched shoulders, hips to the side, or bent back? Let the mirror be your guide.

Start From the Bottom

• Good posture begins with your feet. They should be relatively shoulder length apart. Next, align your hips and keep your shoulders squared to create a straight line from head-to-toe.

Teach and Repeat

• Instead of running to get coffee during breaks, try teaching your body what it feels like to stand tall. Position your body against the wall, with just your shoulders, head and butt touching it. It will feel awkward at first, but practice makes perfect! And soon it will feel strange not standing that way.

Stick With It

• Since we can’t bring our mothers with us to the office (usually), place post-it notes or stickers around your workspace to remind you to keep your posture in check. You can be as harsh or as gentle as you like, just as long as it gets you to stand up straight.

Get in Your Head

• Of course it’s important to continue to sit up straight while sitting, but don’t forget to adjust the head rest! Your back may be aligned, but it’s not doing any good if you’re straining the neck. The head rest should be placed so the middle of your head rests against it, not beneath the neck or placed too high.

Did you practice these steps? What did you think?

The post How to Improve Posture at Work appeared first on Xdesk Blog.

Read through to discover the best way to stand behind your adjustable height desk.

In our last post we told you why good posture is important, both for your health and your looks and confidence. Today we thought we’d go over what exactly good posture looks like. This will be important with an adjustable height desk, because good posture is key whether you’re sitting, standing, or on the move. Check it out.

Sitting: If you have your adjustable height desk in a seated position, or perhaps you’re sitting on the bus, or even in your car—here is the perfect posture for optimal breathing, digestion, and muscle development. Sit with your shoulders and back straight. Your legs should be at a 90 degree angle to your body, and be sure to keep your neck, back, and heels in alignment. If you start feeling like slouching at your adjustable height desk, just adjust it and stand up!

Standing: Okay, speaking of standing, here’s how you should do it: Hold your head up straight and chin slightly tucked in. Keep your shoulder blades back, your chest forward, and your stomach tucked in. Keep most of your weight on the balls of your feet (not your toes or heels) and let your arms dangle down naturally. If you’re at your adjustable height desk using the keyboard, your forearms should be parallel to the floor and your wrists should be bent down slightly to type.

Lifting: If you need to lift something off the ground, bend at the knees and use your leg muscles to do most of the work—not your back. When you bend at the waist to lift something, your back is doing all the work and that’s a good way to pull something (trust me!)

Keep your spine straight: This is more of a general rule. Be mindful of your spine when you’re standing or sitting at your adjustable height desk, when you’re moving around, or even when moving something. Awareness is key. The more attention you pay to your posture, the better it will be!

So remember these positions when you’re sitting, standing, lifting, or just living. And be sure to check out our next post with some great tips, stretches, and exercises for getting and maintaining that perfect posture.

Do you use an adjustable height desk? Have you noticed a difference in how your back feels? Share your thoughts below!

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