Posture Helps

My posture has been poor, rolled shoulders, for as long as I can remember. Eight years ago I worked with a wonderful progressive chiropractor in Elko, NV, and he helped to get me into better alignment and nearly fixed my reverse neck curve before I needed to move. A few months ago I decided to work on my posture again, but this time I wanted to find tools that I could use at home on my own. These are the helps that I found, in the order that I found them:

Posture Alignment is a helpful book which explains the nuts and bolts of proper posture. It is a quick read, practical, and not too new-agey like so many books on posture connected with yoga and optimal health are. The author explains how to find where you need help with your posture and then directs you to specific exercises for correction. The exercises are gentle and take ~ 25 minutes. I enjoy doing the exercises because they are relaxing and feel good, bringing relief to my sore back. I was also able to fix, on my own, a lower back kink by doing these exercises.

Posture Pal is a passive device that feels sooooooo good to my back. I purchased this originally to use in conjunction with the posture exercises from the Posture Alignment book, since several include laying on my back. More often, though, I just use it when I'm tired in the middle of or at the end of the day, when I need to rest and have quiet time. I was pleased to find this product because over the years, I have tried to simulate exactly what this product does. It places firm padding between my shoulders and allows my shoulders to drop back into proper alignment.

While purchasing the Posture Pal, I added the D-Core pillow to my order. I have mixed feelings about this product. I'm doing my best to learn how to sleep on my back, due to pregnancies and nursing in bed I'm a devoted side sleeper, and I think this pillow helps, but sometimes I fall out of it or roll to my side but don't land where I should. It is definitely better for my posture than my previous pillow, a latex pillow that I loved, but I will keep my eyes open for other pillow opportunities.

The Nada Chair is a funky little device that helps me to sit properly anywhere. I use this "chair" when working at the computer, sitting at the table for meals, sitting at the table doing formal work with the children, sitting on the couch folding laundry, etc. I've used on long rides in the car as a passenger and when at a Dback game in the cheap seats. I love how, without effort or thought on my part, this back support gently and firmly forces my back and neck into a proper sitting position. Now that the good weather is coming to Arizona, I hope to develop the habit of bringing the Nada Chair with me to use on nature walks, hikes, and park days.

T-Tapp deserves a post of its own because it has helped me with so much more than posture, but for now I'll share that these exercises have made my back, shoulders, and neck stronger than I've ever known them to be. I do Theresa Tapp's "Primary Back Stretch", which takes ~ 3 minutes, as soon as I get up in the morning and before I go to bed.

I thank my husband for encouraging me to risk spending money on products that might help because they have! Here's my favorite proof. When Dave took me out for dinner on our 21st anniversary at the end of August, we went to Carrabbas and were seated in a booth. I would normally have suffered mightily and squirmed like the other customers around me, yet I sat properly without back support and with complete comfort for appetizers, dinner, and dessert! Improved posture and cannolies, now that's a happy combination:).