HEALTHY YOU
Stand Up Straight!
How to assess—and fix—your posture so you look taller and leaner, and avoid nagging pain
PART ONE
Stand so that your left side is adjacent to a full-length mirror. Turn your head slightly to see your reflection, or ask a partner to assess you. Now, ask:
WHERE ARE MY EARS?
They should be directly over your shoulders, not out in front. To bring your ears back: Lift the crown of your head toward the ceiling. Keep your eyes forward, jaw parallel to the floor. Pull your shoulder blades back, as though trying to touch them together.
WHERE ARE MY HIPS?
Belly fat and too much sitting cause our hips to tilt forward. Tighten your stomach muscles; push your hips forward so the points of your hip bones are directly below your shoulders.
WHERE ARE MY ANKLES?
When your head and belly are out in front and your hips are behind, your ankles will often wind up somewhere in the middle. Your ankle bones should be directly below your hip bones, for proper balance.
PART TWO
Holding your newly aligned posture, turn to face the mirror. Ask yourself:
WHERE ARE MY SHOULDERS?
If one is higher than the other, roll your shoulders forward and back to loosen them. If one or both shoulders are forward, you may have tight chest muscles, which can cause you to hunch forward. To loosen up, clasp your hands behind you, interlocking your fingers, palms together. Lift your hands up and backward as far as you can. Hold for 10 seconds, then return to the starting position.
WHERE ARE MY FEET?
They should be shoulder-width apart and even with each other, toes facing forward. Often when our head and belly are out in front, we wind up walking (or waddling) with a wider stance. Shuffle your feet until they’re even with each other and no farther apart than shoulder width. Take a moment to feel how you’re balanced. Your weight should be distributed equally on both feet.
WHERE ARE MY KNEES?
Tightness in the back can pull the knees out of alignment. Try this easy stretch: Stand with your big toes touching and your heels slightly apart. Fold forward at the hips, curl your chin to your chest, and let your arms dangle toward the floor.
Pamela Peeke, M.D., is an assistant professor of medicine at the University of Maryland.