Improving Your Posture At Any Age
Slouching: most of us (okay, maybe all of us!) do it. And as we grow older, the impact of bad posture can be more dramatic to our wellness, mood and mobility. Luckily, there are some simple fixes to improve your posture and help you feel great! Read on for some expert tips, designed to lead you to a future filled with less slouching and more celebrating. Move Your Body People were made to move! But with the comforts of modern life, that can be hard to remember. That’s where technology comes in. You can set a timer for every 30 or 60 minutes to remind you to get up and shake things out. When you move your body, blood circulates and delivers important nutrients (as well as oxygen) to your muscles. The circulating blood also carries away some of the substances responsible for soreness. 
At Avila, we have fitness classes six days a week to keep our residents’ blood flowing. From pilates to swimming, there is a class for every skill level across a wide array of interests. But don’t forget, even a simple walk will do! We often see our residents strolling around and enjoying the natural beauty of our campus. Practice Breathing Another great tip you can do anywhere! Good posture isn’t necessarily about being perfectly straight—rather, it’s about finding the ideal position for your own body. Your head should be over your ribcage, directly above your heart. Now that you know what to look for, you’ll understand how being in this posture helps you to breathe deeply. Try taking long, slow breaths for about a minute. Imagine your breath is going in through your stomach, then inflating through your chest. Flex and Stretch Your muscles in your chest and neck can get really tight. This is a big problem when it comes to good posture. Here’s a simple stretch you can try:
At Avila, we have fitness classes six days a week to keep our residents’ blood flowing. From pilates to swimming, there is a class for every skill level across a wide array of interests. But don’t forget, even a simple walk will do! We often see our residents strolling around and enjoying the natural beauty of our campus. Practice Breathing Another great tip you can do anywhere! Good posture isn’t necessarily about being perfectly straight—rather, it’s about finding the ideal position for your own body. Your head should be over your ribcage, directly above your heart. Now that you know what to look for, you’ll understand how being in this posture helps you to breathe deeply. Try taking long, slow breaths for about a minute. Imagine your breath is going in through your stomach, then inflating through your chest. Flex and Stretch Your muscles in your chest and neck can get really tight. This is a big problem when it comes to good posture. Here’s a simple stretch you can try:
- Interlace your fingers
- Place your hands behind your head, at the base of your skull
- Lift and broaden your chest while arching your upper back
- Gently look up at the sky or ceiling
Our yoga classes can help guide you through gentle stretches like this one, that make a big difference at the end of the day! Good posture is just a few steps away. If we can do it, so can you! Are you interested in fitness classes and an active lifestyle in retirement? If so, you should come for a visit! Contact us here for more information.