Having a good posture is not just essential for the sake of your appearance. It is also helpful in developing flexibility and strength and can help balance your body. All of these can help reduce muscle pain and provides you more energy throughout the day. You can also reduce stress on your ligaments and muscles through proper posture, which can bring down the risk of injury. In fact, proper posture may also be beneficial for mental health. An upright posture is known to reduce fatigue in people suffering from depression, decrease negative self-focus and increase positivity.
But, how do you improve your posture? Here are some of the best exercises you can engage in for this purpose.
Child’s pose
One of the best yoga poses you can do for improving your posture is child’s pose, as it lengthens and stretches your hamstrings, glutes and spine. It can also release tension in your neck and lower back.
Forward fold
This is a standing stretch that you can use for releasing tension in your hamstrings, glutes and spine and it can also stretch your legs and hips.
Cat-cow
The combination of two poses, cow and cat pose, this one is helpful in relieving tension in your neck, shoulders and torso, while also promoting spinal mobility and blood circulation.
Chest opener
Most people lead sedentary lifestyles these days, which means they spend most of their time sitting. This can significantly mess with posture and one of the best ways to counter it is by doing this specific pose. It involves stretching and opening your chest, which causes your chest to move inwards.
High plank
If your body is stiff, or you can feel pain throughout your body, a high plank is the way to go because it can relieve both issues. Meanwhile, it also strengthens your hamstrings, glutes and shoulders. The exercise is also helpful in developing strength and balance in your back and core, both of which are necessary for good posture.
Side plank
Rather than the standard plank, you can give this variation a try, as it helps in working the muscles in your glutes and sides. When these muscles are aligned and strengthened, it can improve posture and support your back.
Glute bridge
You can relieve lower back pain and activate and strengthen your glutes with glute bridges. This can improve the alignment and functioning of your pelvis and hips, thereby improving your posture.
Isometric pulls
This particular exercise works your back, arm and shoulder muscles, thereby providing you the strength required for maintaining good posture in the long run.
Downward-facing dog
Another exercise recommended for improving your posture is downward-facing dog. You can use this forward bend as a resting pose for balancing out your body. It is helpful in relieving back pain and it also aligns and strengthens your back muscles, which can help you maintain better posture.
Pigeon pose
This particular posture requires you to open your hips, which can loosen up your glutes, hamstrings and spine.
