Good posture is important for a variety of reasons, firstly it’s healthy, when you stand and sit straight it’s easier to fully inflate your lungs (go on, try it now, try taking a deep breath without straightening your back). Your stomach has more room too to do what it must when your back is straight , indigestion is more likely to happen when we slouch forward.

Over many years bad postural habits can damage your joints and even deform the shape of your vertebrae (spinal bones), when this happens standing straight becomes difficult (if not impossible) and even painful.

Good posture has another important advantage too, it just looks better, people appear more confident, dignified, trustworthy and attractive when they stand, sit and walk straight. How many times have you seen a person with a nice face and well proportioned body spoil the whole effect by slumping their shoulders and sagging to one side. Stand infront of the mirror yourself and ask yourself what looks better, good or bad posture.

Bad posture looks lazy, it makes you look tired and older than you really are.

The good news is that you can do something about it, exercise regimes such as Yoga, Tai Chi, Pilates, Alexander Technique and Feldenkrais can all help you on your way to better health and posture. Even better still get your body prepared for corrective exercise with acupuncture and massage, it really does make exercise easier to do so you can get results faster.

If you are tall don’t try and hide it, you will only wreck your back if you do. If you have large breasts holding your shoulders forward to disguise that will damage your spine too, teenage girls are particularly susceptible to this. For women with particularly large breasts the actual weight of breast tissue can pull your upper forward, breast reduction surgery can help with this. Try and look confident even if you are not that will help your posture too.

Your posture and body language will usually be the first impression you make on others, before a person is close enough to get a propper look at your face and eyes they are already unconsciously beginning to form an opinion based on what they can see.

Nobody gets a second chance to make a first impression so make it a good one.