If you find yourself looking in the mirror wishing you had better posture, this article is the one for you! Posture is about more than just remembering to stand up straight. It’s about changing the muscle memory of your upper body. It’s so important to work on reversing the effects of too many hours spent hunched over your phone or computer because it could lead to serious pain as we age.
Yoga is a great way to improve your posture because it requires our bodies to stretch in ways they don’t normally. Even if you don’t have a daily yoga practice, you can still include these movements into your day at any time. The more you practice these poses, the better your posture will become over time. Eventually, the goal is that you won’t have to even think about standing up straight–it will just happen naturally! Here are three yoga poses to improve your posture.
Cat Cow Pose
Start on your hands and knees in a tabletop position and slowly curve your lower back up and down with your inhales and exhales. Do this exercise until you feel your spine relax.
Cobra Pose
Lay down on your stomach and put your hands flat on the mat by your shoulders. Slowly push your chest up until your elbows are straight. Hold this for a few seconds and then release. Repeat as many times as you want.
Downward Facing Dog Pose
Start in a tabletop position. Lift your knees, tuck your toes, extend your legs, and press back into downward dog. Hold, release, and repeat steps as needed.
