Want to decrease your pain, feel more alert and even sleep
better? It’s time to fix your posture. Keep reading to learn how you can
straighten things out!
Should you encounter a life threatening emergency, are you
perfectly positioned to handle it? If you answered no, it may be time to look
into better personal protection. With the help of Life Alert you can navigate a
home invasion, a home fire or even a serious fall with ease and safety. Simply
slip on their lightweight and waterproof emergency pendant and immediately
harness 24/7 personal protection power. No matter what emergency you may face,
Life Alert’s dispatch team can summon you emergency medical help fast with just
one touch of a button. Stand up for your independence by getting Life Alert
today!
Can’t stop slouching? Experts from Real Simple[1]
are weighing in on why it is important to work on your posture. They are also
offering small, but impactful steps to help you get there. Check them out
below!
1. Get Moving
The human body wasn’t made to sit for hours
on end, says William Smith, a certified strength and conditioning specialist.
To combat the pain, set reminders to stretch or walk every half hour for
several minutes. Moving around helps blood circulate, bringing oxygen and nutrients
to muscles and helping wash away some of the substances that cause soreness.
This can improve mobility and strength in parts of the body that help with
posture. Check with your employer about a company ergonomist, who might be able
to troubleshoot your desk setup or switch you to an adjustable desk. You can
also head to osha.gov and search “ergonomics” for tips.
2. Practice Breathing
Posture isn’t really about forcing your
shoulders back, says Jill Miller, creator of the fitness method Yoga Tune Up.
It’s about helping your spine find its most efficient shape. Force shouldn’t be
part of the equation. Your skull should rest over your rib cage, directly above
your heart, creating a gentle wave in your spine. An easy way to fix your
posture is to pay attention to your breathing: For you to take truly deep
breaths, your spine must be in proper alignment, with your ribs moving together
with your breathing muscles. As you breathe in, visualize sending the breath
toward your stomach, then expanding it into your chest.
3. Stretch It Out
When the chest and neck muscles are too
tight, they contribute to hunching, says Miller. Try this stretch: Interlace
your fingers behind your head, resting them on the base of your skull. Broaden
your chest as you arch your upper back, gently pulling your elbows backward and
gazing at the ceiling. Or relieve neck tension with a small tennis or massage
ball: Lean forward slightly and rest the ball between a solid surface (a
doorjamb works well) and the spot above your collarbone and below your
shoulder. Knead the ball into the muscle, then switch sides. As always, don’t
forget to take deep breaths.
4. Choose the Right Pillow
An unsupportive pillow can cause neck pain
and possibly play a role in poor posture, says Rebecca Robbins, PhD, coauthor of
Sleep for Success. Stomach sleepers might find they don’t need a pillow, since
this position can help keep the body aligned. Back and side sleepers may want
to use a pillow to fill the space between the shoulder and neck. (When you
sleep on your side, your shoulder can be compressed by your body weight,
straining your neck.) Since side sleepers have the largest gap to fill, they’ll
typically need the thickest pillow. No matter your sleep position, some of the
most posture-friendly pillows are high-loft down-feather ones that conform to
the body.
So, as your mother used to say, sit up straight! With better
posture, your body will thank you. You can continue to straighten things out
and protect your body more by getting the at-home safety you deserve. If you
are an aging senior who is living independently, having a secure personal
protection plan in place is essential to better living because facing a life
threatening emergency can be terrifying and dangerous when you live alone.
Luckily, Life Alert is here and they will have your back, 24/7. Just place
their lightweight, waterproof emergency pendant around your neck or wrist and
in the event of a life threatening emergency, push the button on your pendant
and summon an emergency medical response fast.
Don’t bend over backwards trying to find a medical alert device that
will offer you 24/7 protection; instead, square your shoulders with confidence
and get Life Alert today! Call 1-800-513-2934 for a free Life Alert brochure.
Works Cited:
1.
Kraus, Tamara. “How to Improve Your Posture.” Real Simple. 24 October 2018.
<https://www.realsimple.com/health/how-to-improve-posture >.
