How's Your Posture?

When I was a kid, my sisters and I used to practice walking across the room with a book on our heads. The idea, of course, was to have that perfect posture so we could become models. None of us are models, of course, but one thing that has happened over the years is poor posture...a problem many of us have due to hours of hunching over a computer, over a steering wheel or in front of a TV.

Poor posture can lead to a number of problems like tight shoulders, lower back pain and muscle imbalances that make daily life uncomfortable at times. It's tough to have good posture all the time, but you can practice it throughout the day by becoming aware of how you're sitting or standing and bringing your body back into alignment. One idea is to set a timer to go off every hour or so to stand up, stretch and then sit in a more ergonomic position.

These resources offer you some ideas for what good posture is as well as some stretches you can do at your desk to work out the kinks:

Essential Stretches
Test Your Posture
The Causes of Poor Posture
Dynamic Exercises for the Abs & Back