5 Exercises to Improve your Body Posture

Do you always feel like having good posture? Being in this field for so many years, I've found that people don't concentrate more on their body posture and they visit personal fitness trainers and doctors to get the right posture when they start facing health issues. Having a good posture is a lot than looking good. It helps you to develop strength, flexibility, and maintain balance in your body. These can all lead to less muscle pain and more energy throughout the day. Proper posture also reduces stress on your muscles and ligaments, which can reduce the risk of injury. Besides, having a good body posture also gives you confidence. 

Read the article to learn how to do 5 exercises that’ll help you stand a little taller: 

 

1. Forward Fold 

 

This is a standing stretch that releases tension in your spine and glutes. It also helps in stretching your hips and legs. While doing forward fold, you should feel the entire backside of your body opening up and lengthening. If you have the personal fitness trainer, they will guide you step by step. 

 

How to do this: 

• Stand with your toes touching and your heels slightly apart. 
• Bring your hands to your hips and fold forward at your hips. 
• Release your hands toward the floor or place them on a block. Just go as far as you can. 
• Bend your knees slightly, soften your hips joints, and allow your spine to lengthen. 
• Tuck your chin into your chest and allow your head to fall heavily to the floor. 

 

2. Cat-Cow 

 

Practicing cat-cow stretches massages your spine. It also helps to relieve tension in your torso, shoulders, and neck. It also helps in blood circulation. 

How to do this: 

• Come onto your hands and knees with your weight balanced evenly between all four points. 
• Inhale to look up, dropping your abdomen down toward the ground as you extends your spine. 
• Exhale and arch your spine toward the ceiling and tuck your chin into your chest. 

 

3. Chest Opener 

 

This exercise allows you to open and stretch your chest. This is especially useful if you spend most of your day sitting. Strengthening your chest also helps you stand up straighter. Also every Auckland Central Personal Trainer begins their session from stretching exercise with their clients and you will find that once you start the workout with them. 

How to do this: 

 

• Stand with your feet about hip-width apart. 
• Bring your arms behind you and interlace your fingers with your palms pressing together. Grasp a towel if your hands don’t reach each other. 
• Keep your head, neck, and spine in one line as you gaze straight ahead. 
• Inhale as you lift your chest toward the ceiling and bring your hands toward the floor. 
• Breathe deeply as you hold this pose for 5 breaths. 
• Release and relax for a few breaths. 

4. Side Plank 

 

You can use a side plank to maintain the neutral alignment of your spine and legs. Strengthening and aligning these muscles helps to support your back and improve posture. 

How to do this: 

• From a high plank position, bring your left hand slightly into center. 
• Shift your weight onto your left hand, stack your ankles, and lift your hips. 
• Place your right hand on your hip or extend it up toward the ceiling. 
• You can drop your left knee down to the floor for extra support. 
• Engage your abdominals, side body, and glutes as you maintain this pose. 
• Align your body in a straight line from the crown of your head to your heels. 
• Look straight ahead of you or up toward your hand. 
• Hold this pose for up to 30 seconds. 
• Repeat on the opposite side. 

 

5. Cobra Pose 

 

This move strengthens the erector spinae (the back muscles that extend your spine and prevent slouching) and other low back muscles. 

 

How to do this: 

• Lie on your stomach with palms flat on the floor near your ribs. 
• Extend your legs straight behind you, and press the tops of your feet into the floor. 
• Exhale strongly and pull your abdominal muscles in and up toward your spine. 
• Slowly raise your head and chest off the floor, using only your back muscles. 
• Keep your hip on the floor, and gaze down at the floor to relax your neck muscles. 

 

So, these are the few exercises that you can do in order to improve your body posture. However it’s better to hire personal fitness trainers as they will guide you step by step. For instance, www.mkfitnessnz.com is the finest and certified personal trainer in Auckland. Manik, has helped many clients meet their fitness goals. No matter whether it's a weight loss or bodybuilding strength and conditioning for specific sports. His knowledge and experience can help you do that too. Moreover, the best thing is his personal training packages are very affordable. So book him now, get the free appointment ASAP! 

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