We’ve heard it over and over again.  Our mothers and fathers told us to “stand up straight”, maybe our teachers too.  In exercise classes we are told to stand tall.  But why?

Correct posture does many things.  Good alignment eases the strain on your spinal joints and muscles.  It prevents headaches by opening the area where the head meets the neck to avoid compression of the vessels and muscles in that area.  Good head positioning also puts the jaw in the ideal position during opening and closing.

Standing correctly makes our feet work properly and allows the arches to help support the weight of our bodies. It makes our balance better. Want to see great posture?  Watch an 18-month old walk and move around. They are perfectly balanced with straight spines during sitting, standing, squatting and running because they are still learning how to move.  It’s only as they get older that they start to develop poor postural habits.

Correct posture also allows our blood vessels to pump more efficiently. It allows maximum expansion of our lungs.  Our knees are aligned correctly.  There is a psychological component as well. Standing tall is a posture of confidence in ourselves – even if we don’t necessarily feel confident on the inside.

Changing our postural habits is one of the hardest physical changes to make in ourselves.  But practice, practice, practice makes it easier.  So remember – your mom was right, stand tall.