Harmony Deconstructed Podcast

The way we poise ourselves can have an effect on whether or not we enhance harmony within or around us. It also reflects and affects our health.

“A good stance and posture reflects a proper state of mind” - Morihei Ueshiba

Our posture reveals the status of our physical and emotional health. If you have pain somewhere in your body, your posture shifts to accommodate the pain, to ensure that there is less pressure exerted in the painful part of the body so that there is less pain. Apparently, this is also true when it comes to emotional pain. In a TED talk titled Postural Empowerment: The Future of Holistic Wellbeing, Rob Holcroft indicated that he observed that different people he worked with who had anxiety and depression would adopt differing degrees of a foetal position. They would cave in around the heart, which is considered the emotional centre, as if to protect it. He observed that the body was responding in the same way to emotional trauma as it would to physical trauma. He found that when he got people to lift their breast bone, to open up or expose their heart area, he would see a positive emotional shift happen after the initial sense of vulnerability. Physically opening up and exposing the heart area, our emotional centre, can feel overwhelming but also it is quite empowering.

The relationship between the body and the mind is cyclic in nature. They are one system, if you may. How the body acts does affect the mind and how the mind feels also affects the body. So essentially, if you have harmony within, then you will most likely have good posture, if you have or maintain good posture, it enhances or boosts your body functions and thus it increases your well-being.

Our posture also plays a crucial role in how others perceive us. It contributes to the social dynamics that we encounter on a daily basis. Since as human beings we are social creatures, this then becomes such an important aspect of our lives. We utilize posture to draw others to help us out when in trouble, to fend off would-be attackers whether that be physical or emotional attack, we use it to look attractive to others for social and business ends. As Camille Kostek said “Confidence is everything, and the way you carry yourself, your posture, eye contact, all of that plays such a big role in impressions, regardless of your size.”

So the question arises what is good posture?

In an article titled Guide to Good Posture found on medlineplus.gov by the US National Library of Medicine, they indicate that

“Posture is how you hold your body. There are two types:

Dynamic posture is how you hold yourself when you are moving, like when you are walking, running, or bending over to pick up something.

Static posture is how you hold yourself when you are not moving, like when you are sitting, standing, or sleeping.

It is important to make sure that you have good dynamic and static posture.

The key to good posture is the position of your spine. Your spine has three natural curves - at your neck, mid back, and low back. Correct posture should maintain these curves, but not increase them. Your head should be above your shoulders, and the top of your shoulder should be over the hips.”

How mindful are you about your posture?

So clearly, good posture improves our well-being and how we are perceived by the people around us. For us to live an inspired harmonious life, we should be conscious of our posture, ensuring that we adopt a good posture. It is the simple daily habits regarding our posture that will be either beneficial or detrimental to our well-being in the long run.