How to Achieve Balance and Good Posture

Good balance and good posture are important for health, mobility, energy and physical comfort. Posture is inhibited by injuries, pains or improper support, causing the body to compensate. Effective balance can be thrown off by one-sidedness. With a little practice, you can achieve and maintain good posture and good balance.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

1. Maintain correct posture. Align joints keeping a tall spine, head straight, chin in, chest out and shoulders back. Tighten the stomach muscles. Proper posture starts with the core. Strengthen the abdomen and back with Pilates or weight training. Try to equalize right and left sides in strength. Relax.
2. Test your balance, which is crucial to reaction time. Radical changes in weight, medication or eyewear cause disorientation and require adjustment. Choose simple and comfortable balance activities like bike riding, standing on one leg, walking with one foot in front of the other or crossing a low and safe beam.
3. Get used to living, lifting, moving, working and sleeping with correct posture. This may take some time and training. Check your posture throughout the day and be careful when you exit the bed, car or chair. Seek chiropractic guidance if needed.
4. Vary physical routines and stay active. Break up sitting or standing poses every 30 minutes. Taking the stairs, hopping across stones and other mixed movements build strength and balance.
5. Protect your body. Support your arches and the curve in the lower back with inserts and cushions or rolled towels and special pillows, respectively. Adjusted computer screens, wrist pads, fitted brassieres, a pillow under the legs when you sleep and back belts when you lift weights can all help.
6. Lift from the knees and squat rather than bend over from the back. Protect your body from injury and strain by keeping loads light. Heavy lifting or moving can cause damage, especially when you use incorrect posture.
7. Stretch regularly. Flexibility helps to maintain healthy ligaments, joints and muscles. It also helps you maintain good posture, balance and co-ordination. Stretching allows the muscles to revitalize, loosen and work optimally.