Good Posture is Bad for Your Back

Have you ever resolved to change something in your life, and then found that no matter how hard you try, it seems impossible?  It can be really frustrating to want to change yet not be able to make it happen.  Do you want to improve your posture this year?  Have you been noticing that your head and shoulders are rounded forward?  Or maybe you’ve decided that you’re tired of putting up with that nagging pain in your back.  How can you change your posture and reduce your pain in a way that you can really integrate into your daily life?

I can think of one particular resolution I had for many years before I finally accomplished it.  In 1988-1989 I was in India studying yoga and meditation.  While I was there, I meditated every day for months.  When I got home, I assumed it would be easy to continue the practice.  But somehow, I never seemed to find the time.  I always had some excuse for not doing it.  It was really frustrating to have this goal which seemed so important, but to make no progress on it.

I’ve found that sometimes I have to want it bad enough in order to “just do it”.  Well, I finally said, “I’m going to do it!”  I took a piece of paper and made a chart with the 7 days of the week and little boxes for me to check off if I meditated that day.  I put the paper right on my front door (on the inside!), so that every time I left my house, I had to see it.

That really worked for me!  I would be about to leave the house, and I’d see the paper – blank, with no boxes checked.  I would feel that nagging sense that I should act on this goal.  Then I started saying, “Okay, I’ll just do it for 5 minutes.”  Well, it started with 5 minutes here and there, and gradually I started meditating longer and more often.  After using these sheets for maybe 6 months, I finally realized that I didn’t need them anymore. It had become a new habit!

It is commonly believed that it takes 21 days (Dr. Maxwell Maltz discovered this) or 30 days to change a habit.  Why not use the next 30 days to transform your posture and reduce your pain?

I’ve heard from many students that it’s hard to remember to practice.  Here are some ways that might help you remember to practice (aside from the chart on the door method):

-         Post photos of people with Balanced posture on your refrigerator, at your desk, etc., so that you see them everyday.  You can use the reminder sheets you received in the intro class or the Balance Your Body Foundations program for this.

-         When you see someone who is very “out of Balance”, that’s a great time to practice.  It can remind you of what you want to change.

-         When you see a Balanced person, that also is a great time to practice.  You may see people from other countries with Balanced posture who can model healthy alignment and inspire you to practice.

-         Remember WHY you want to change.  Think about how great it will be when you are pain-free, when you love your posture, etc.  You can use your imagination to flesh out what this will look like, feel like, and sound like.  Getting your senses involved will make it more realistic and be more effective.

-         Come to an intro Balance Method workshop or the Balance Your Body Foundations program for the first time or as a refresher.  Get inspired or re-inspired to practice.

-         Come to weekly Yoga in Balance classes at Sonoma Body Balance.  This is a great way to develop a regular weekly habit of practicing.  The benefits last beyond the class, especially if you remember to practice healthy alignment throughout your day.

-         If you are in pain, practice.  The Balance Method is a simple, effective way to shift out of pain by shifting how you sit, stand, bend, walk, and sleep.  Review what you learned in class or come for a private lesson to get personal attention.

-         Buy a copy of “Good Posture is Bad for Your Back” – my home study course with 4 CDs and a workbook (www.goodpostureisbadforyourback.com)

I hope that this New Year will bring you good health, comfort in your body, and many other blessings.  If you get in the habit of practicing Balanced posture, it will serve you for many years to come.

(© 2010 Dana K. Davis)