Ideal postural alignment should be one of the main goals of a fitness program. Without it, you can’t move in the strongest and safest way. Most of us are some ways away from ideal postural alignment – because of structural issues like scoliosis or different leg lengths, muscular imbalance issues like overly tight hamstrings or chest muscles, or combination of both. Reaching ideal posture and being able to maintain it comes from recognizing the issues and that many can be fixed by stretching tight muscles, strengthening weak muscles, understanding where movement power should be generated and by practicing ideal posture and movement patterns in daily life. It takes quite a while to fix postural issues, and depending on the cause of the problem you may not be able to completely achieve the ideal, but the goal is to get as close as possible. Take time to note where you feel work or release when you’re resistance training, doing cardio, stretching, and moving around in your daily life. Use mirrors to check your alignment if possible. Set yourself in the best position you can and them maintain that position when you move your limbs.
Read the links below to get an idea of ideal postural alignment.
- Laying Prone (face down)
- Laying Supine (face up)
- Lumbo-pelvic stability
- Scapular stability
- Seated
- Side-lying
- Standing
Erin Mays Fitness Training 