4 days ago
7 Pilates Moves for Better Posture
When you picture someone with good posture, you might imagine a person who can balance a book on her head, shoulders pulled back. But ideal posture doesn't always mean standing ramrod straight, experts say. It's more important to be able to move comfortably through a wide range of positions while feeling balanced and supported.
Good posture allows you to sit, stand, squat and perform other everyday movements in good alignment, said Jessica Valant, a physical therapist and Pilates instructor in Denver. This means that your muscles, bones and joints are able to move comfortably without strain.
Pilates can be a helpful tool for improving alignment, said Ms. Valant, because the exercises require you to practice balance, coordination and stability.
Core strength, a well-known benefit of Pilates, plays a role in supporting your posture. 'The core is like a train station,' Ms. Valant said: All of your movements run through it.
Pilates also improves your mind-body connection, which makes you more aware of how you're carrying yourself, said Kira Lamb, a classical Pilates teacher in New York City. Practicing Pilates can also help you move more efficiently as you get stronger, she said.
This routine is designed to support your posture by helping to improve your core strength, spinal mobility and pelvic stability. It also builds strength in your posterior chain, the muscles along the back of your body such as the glutes, hamstrings and back muscles.
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