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30 Days to a better man<br />
What Is Good Posture?<br />
Contrary to your third grade teacher, good posture does not require you<br />
to look like a stiff piece of board. Good posture involves having a relaxed<br />
appearance and a “neutral spine.” A neutral spine retains three natural<br />
curves: a small hollow at the base of the neck, a small roundness at the<br />
middle back, and a small hollow in the lower back. Many people overcompensate<br />
for bad posture by standing too straight, thus eliminating the<br />
natural curves of the spine.<br />
When our posture is correct, the ears, shoulders, hips, knees, and ankles<br />
should align in one straight line. To give you a mental image of what<br />
good posture looks like, imagine hanging a plumb line from your earlobe.<br />
If your posture is correct, the line would hang straight to the middle of<br />
the anklebone.<br />
If you’re not a mental imagery kind of guy, perform this “wall test.” Stand<br />
with head, shoulders, and back against the wall and your heels about 5-6<br />
inches forward. Draw in the lower abdominal muscles, decreasing the<br />
arch in your lower back. Push away from the wall and try to maintain this<br />
upright, vertical alignment. That’s good posture.<br />
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