Posture: How do you bend your back?

I don’t know about you, but I am writing this article sitting on my chair. It has a backrest. Does yours?

Have you considered the fact that a back rest may not be good for you?

I used to slouch all the time. Overweight with poor muscle development, it was inevitable I would.

Thanks to a decade of working on my mind and body, I can now sit for prolonged periods without slouching. Back straight, to make a soldier proud.

When you sit, your body weight rests on your back, hips, and legs. Depending on fitness, the load will transfer more to one area or the other.

If your weight is more than desired, it will create imbalances and excess load across your body. One outcome is slouching, as your body gives way to the load, unable to carry it.

In such situations, you will slouch with or without a back rest.

So why do I say your back rest is hurting you?

A back rest bears some of the weight of your body, especially a well designed one.

However, it can mask the poor form of your back while sitting.

Good posture means that your spine is aligned, in three front to back curves, forming an S-Curved shape. A back rest can not just prevent this from happening, it could even make things worse.

So what can you do?

You will dislike me for saying this, but you really need to straighten your spine. Practice sitting without a back rest with your spine erect.

Watch your posture when you do. In the begining, more likely than not, your back will hurt. But as you practice, your back, abdominal and core muscles will get stronger. You will find it easier to hold the position for longer.

Someday, soon, you will be in a position to sit without slouching or putting pressure on your spine.

When you can, you will thank me for it. You are welcome!

Reach out to me on twitter @rbawri Instagram @riteshbawriofficial and YouTube at www.youtube.com/breatheagain