Hey gang! How’s it going? Hope you’re having an awesome week …

But never mind all the niceties, I’ve got something I need to get the heck off my chest … RIGHT NOW !!!

Trainers: I need your opinion here … the rest of you: pay close attention, this is important:

What is up with all the HORRIBLE posture I’m seeing all around these days? Doesn’t anybody stand up straight anymore?

I mean good LORD … the hunched shoulders, the over-extended necks … I can barely stand to walk down the street without slapping people on the forehead as I go, telling them to stand the heck up STRAIGHT.

Bad Posture. It’s freaking everywhere. But people don’t seem to be as worried about correcting it as they used to be.

As a matter of fact, bad posture might actually be in style right now!!

Remember that old trick mom taught us of making sure our posture was correct by walking with a book on our heads? Are those days really gone?

Looks like those days ARE gone, but let me tell you MOM WAS RIGHT. If you can stand up straight, and walk carrying a book on your head, you have some pretty awesome posture!

Here’s another post I did not long ago about a couple of conditions that trainers like to keep an eye out for (and work towards correcting in clients): Forward Head and Rounded Shoulders

So anyway, here’s what set me off this time:

I went shopping on the weekend (because what the hell ELSE is there to do in the Summer when the rain just will just freaking NOT stop coming down?) …

… and something I saw (besides all this bad posture on the people around me) has me absolutely AGHAST.

BAD POSTURE ON THE MANNEQUINS!!!

OMG … WTF?!?!

Look at this picture I snapped and tell me if you agree that their shoulders are slightly hunched, and while they don’t have any heads to prove “forward head syndrome” their over-extended necks would suggest that if they DID have heads, they’d have the syndrome …

SO?? AM I RIGHT?

Hey Trainers, Physios and Doctors … I want to hear from you … have I completely lost my mind or is there evidence of Rounded Shoulders and Forward Head Syndrome on these mannequins?

Is Bad Posture SUCH the “NORM” these days that they’re now manufacturing mannequins to this “IDEAL” ?!? (which, btw, are designed as beautiful examples of the human body in order to show off clothing looking its best so you’ll buy it … but please do NOT get me started on their lack of muscle tone … that will have to be a post for another day …)

Is bad posture actually IN STYLE these days? If not, then why manufacture mannequins with bad posture?

(I’m freaking out a little, can you tell?)

And, there’s lots of other evidence out there that also suggests that bad posture has become the ‘norm’ …

… like the design of airline seats, for instance. They push one’s head really far forward.

WHAT FOR? Is this a safety thing?

I can’t imagine that you need to have your head pushed THAT far forward for safety during a crash so I can only assume they’re designed for the comfort of the masses.

But, I personally find them terribly uncomfortable and I almost always get off the plane with neck pain (but then again, I have GOOD posture).

Although, I do understand WHY bad posture is becoming the ‘norm’.

Many of us spend our days hunched over our laptops or work-stations continuously craning our necks and shoulders forward while typing, writing, playing video games, watching movies …

*cough* … ahem, and preparing this blog post *clears throat* …

Our chests get used to being ‘all bunched up’, our backs stretch out …

And before you know it, voila. You’re one of “them” …

So … if you don’t want to become (or remain) one of “them” take this advice:

* Stand up from your work station a lot and walk around a little when you do … with your head up, eyes front, shoulders back, chest out.

* Stretch your chest … A LOT.

* Work out your back muscles … A LOT (back rows, bent over lateral raises, pull-ups or lat pulldowns, for instance) …

* And SIT UP STRAIGHT when you’re at your computer. If you work on a laptop, get a riser for the unit and another keyboard for hand level so you can look straight at the monitor, instead of down at it, while you type, watch, play, or blog.

GOT IT?

Good!

You don’t want your sloppy posture to get out of hand and have you wind up one of those little old ladies or men who walk so hunched over they can only look at the ground when they walk (or worse, only get around in a scooter), do you??

So, take care of yourself NOW, because ‘later’ might wind up being ‘too late’.

And be warned: if someday you’re walking down the street and you’re not practicing good posture, don’t be surprised if someone (maybe me, maybe your mom) walks past, slaps you on the forehead and tells you to stand up straight.

But, of course that won’t happen … because you know better!!

Have a fit, fun and fantastic day.
Girlwithnoname

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Hey everyone. I’ve been thinking quite a bit lately about a couple of physical syndromes that seem to be more prevalent in today’s society than ever: Forward Head Syndrome and Rounded Shoulders (also known as Kyphosis). My airplane ride a couple of weeks ago really got me focused on these physical issues and the more I remain aware of them the more I see them every where I go. Please watch this video, its an important one:

and oh, sorry, I had a mind-stall while I was recording and couldn’t remember the name of the back muscles in the middle of your back: those are your Trapezius muscles, and Rhomboids. So, yep, work your Latissimus Dorsi (sides of your back) and work your Traps and Rhomboids too, ok? Lots of Dumbbell, Barbell or Cable Rows and Reverse Flyes!! Lets get our shoulders back where they belong by strengthening the muscles that hold them back there. While you’re at it do some stretching for your chest so your chest muscles aren’t too tight and holding your shoulders forward. Stretching the front of your neck and strengthening the back of your neck can’t hurt either!!

Here’s today’s Workout Song of the Day… as usual I do my best to keep the song in line with the post. Anyone I’ve ever seen marching, in a parade or half-time at a football game or wherever, always seem to have great posture. Don’t they? Therefore, today’s song is called “The Marching Song” and its GREAT for cardio. It has a great driving beat to drive you forward!! Enjoy!

THE POINTED STICKS – The Marching Song

Don’t forget: if you love it, go get it. Just click on the Buy button on the player widget and it whisks you off to Amazon’s music area. Super easy!

That’s it for today gang!! Hope you have a great week planned. My computer is getting dissected again tomorrow so I have no idea when I’ll be back, but I hope its soon! Wish me luck!

Girlwithnoname



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