I love this topic so much, Vicki. Until I began practicing yoga in my mid-late-20s, I walked around bent in on myself. Would literally walk around with head nodded down. Yoga changed that for me, but when I’m around my family (only once a year or so), I feel as though I’m standing too straight, putting on airs, making myself too visible. I have this same experience when I’m interacting with (most) men, but in that case I can often notice my reaction and still maintain my posture. With my family, I feel guilty and bad for them - as though, by standing upright, I’m shaming them.
These are such interesting reflections Dana about the impact of context. As I look at myself in the wedding photos I can see the part of me that hates being the centre of attention wanting to make herself smaller with all the eyes that are on me. That curled in on our ourselves posture is one I tend to associate with shame. It's also fascinating how much we unconsciously mirror the posture of the people around us - perhaps a part of wanting to belong or fit in?
I have become more aware of my posture since taking up yoga many moons ago. However, it wasn't until recently, that my intermittent lower back pain began to be more persistent. My hips and pelvis were sore all the time, my knee would give way unexpectedly, I couldn't sit for long..I realised all was not well with my core. Somehow, my brain had lost contact with my core. I sought the help of an osteopath. I was also processing some personal issues.
I am even more aware now how important that part of my body is, and how a misaligned pelvis, diagnosed by my osteopath, affects how I stand, walk, sit and move. It is the cause of my knee problem. I had also become depressed, trying to process birth family issues ...something I've struggled with since childhood.
Looking into it more deeply and spiritually, I discovered that area of the body is where unprocessed negative emotions are stored. For a woman that part of the body holds onto the trauma of childbirth. I'm intrigued by the influence of the chakras and meridians on the human body. In my case the second chakra.
Discovering this about my 5 feet self has empowered me to stand tall, and shed psychic weight. Realigning my pelvis has enabled a huge emotional release and has been extremely powerful in terms of how I now stand up for myself and not crumple. I'm a true believer in the interconnectedness of the mind, body, spirit and what is in the macro is in the micro. In the end, life is about becoming whole.
That's a powerful illustration of how it is all interconnected Jules. I often wish our health system was less compartmentalised and more able to integrate these different parts of us and see the connections between them all. It's great to hear the progress you've made on your journey. Thanks for sharing your experiences here.
I needed to read these words of wisdom today. Thanks for the encouragement and reminders. I am going to "play" with moving my body in space, and in different ways this coming week 🙂
"Look out world, here I come." 😍😍I loved everything about this, Vicki. My posture has been historically terrible, much like you described, as if trying to take up the least amount of space possible.
I've noticed since starting to practice martial arts and strength training in a public gym I've slowly become more and more confident and able to take up space in my daily life. There are times I catch myself hiding again and I consciously adjust my posture again. It's a practice.
Even now, I'm sitting in a café and had my arms crossed over themselves, shoulders rounded forward, and since reading this I've sat up straighter with my chest out and arms uncrossed. It's so subtle, but powerful.
Thanks for that Kaitlyn. It's amazing how deep this wiring can go. I've had a daily yoga practice for over a decade and yet still these patterns keep showing up! I'm so glad to hear it resonated with you (and that I'm not alone 😊)
Congratulations on your wedding Vicki! I love this essay so much, please shout it from the rooftops (which I often do!). I speak and write about this very thing, not only because I am a chiropractor by trade, but because how we stand and move projects our energetic field out into the world as well as affects our mindset and can shift our overall well-being.
Thanks Donna and yes, I wrote it as a reminder to myself as much as anyone else! I have learned so much from chiropractors and other body workers over the years 😊
Thank you for the lovely article! Back in the day when I did professional photography jobs, I used to find it fascinating to see people’s bodies vacillate between “on” for the camera and their habitual ways of moving through life. I wish I’d been better able to meld the two! I see the same kinds of shifts in my early adolescent son and his friends—puffing up at times with an attitude of confidence, crumpling into doubts and insecurity at others. What a great reminder to pay attention to this in myself and other adults in our daily lives!
Thanks Lori - yes, someone else mentioned the importance of context too, which is such a great point. It is an interesting window into our internal states at different times. That's such a great visual of your son and his adolescent friends and so relatable 😊
I am so grateful to be reading this as I step into a fresh week ahead. Thank you, Vicki.
After doing some bars on me last week, my reiki healer revealed to me that my 1st chakra is blocked. I have been intentionally incorporating mountain pose and other root based yoga poses throughout my day. Sprinkling reminders to stay /stand tall in my power not just when I am on the mat.
I am tall and as a child, never liked being taller than all my peers. So I slouched. I embrace my height now but I still carry some insecurities with me in my posture. I needed this reminder 🙏🏼
Oh yes, that's so relatable about being tall and trying to make yourself look smaller. Very common I think amongst taller people - it's so hard to stand out as a child! Thanks for your comments Allison 😊
Posture is everything. It affects your mood, your breathing, and how your body feels. A lot of chronic pain comes from years of poor posture. Yoga is filled with gentle (and extreme) back bending poses that undo the effects of gravity pulling us toward the Earth. A simple sun salutation can change how you feel, mentally and physically.
I wholeheartedly support chiropractic care. I started seeing a chiropractor only a couple of months ago, but already most of my bodily pain and discomfort has gone. I've had years of poor posture as well as a bad horse accident, so it was long overdue.
That's not to say that moving your body and the way you stand will not affect how you feel (as someone who does yoga and runs a lot, I'm sure it will!). Just to say that the scientific evidence isn't as straightforward as you suggest.
Thanks Danielle. Yes I'm aware of this - the part I quote here has been well established in other studies, it's the part she claimed about hormone levels that has not been replicated. In my footnote I link to the updated research in this area.
Reading the 2020 systematic review that I link to in my comment above, I wouldn't dare to conclude that " expansive body postures generate increased feelings of power and confidence in research participants". The conclusion of that review states: "The results condense a heterogenic body of experimental research and suggest that **the absence of contractive displays is a stronger driver of the effects detected than the presence of expansive displays**. However, this suggestion should be viewed in light of the small sample of studies comparing expansive and neutral conditions as well as contractive and neutral conditions."
I really enjoyed reading this post, Vicki, thank you. And also to see @DanielleCounotte's comments as I have been deeply immersed in this world of "posture" (actually of NOT-posture!) for many decades. The ideas that F M Alexander, after whom The Alexander Technique was later named (and changed!), puts forward that it is our thinking that drives our movements and therefore if we change our thinking and the subsequent directions to the muscles to fire, we change what our body is reflecting. Or "The body expresses what the mind dwells upon". So stop the original thought/body response, eg. 'I want to be invisible', and the movement will be changed. We can ask ourselves to do this consciously and notice hugely impactful positive results.
The way I see what Amy Cuddy was demonstrating is that she actually changed her thoughts and desired results BEFORE she made a postural change and THERE is where the power is, not in what the resultant muscle action is doing. AND you get a feedback loop of; this doesn't feel like invisible to me anymore, I like this better I am going to continue with this and feel this positivity.
If we STOP the imposition of what we overlay on ourselves, organically we become the fuller expression of who we are naturally and organically, because our body is beautifully well made and flexible, even as we age. But this flies in the face of what we are told to believe about aging and our bodies generally. Instead we are told we need to fix them because they are weak and some even say 'poorly designed'. Quite the opposite of my experience.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts Emma. Yes, I believe the mind-body connection runs in both directions. Interestingly I think Amy Cuddy's research did control for this by giving participants a false pretext for holding certain shapes (no talk of power postures or expansive postures), but of course there are many ways to understand these findings. It's a fascinating area 😃
I love this topic so much, Vicki. Until I began practicing yoga in my mid-late-20s, I walked around bent in on myself. Would literally walk around with head nodded down. Yoga changed that for me, but when I’m around my family (only once a year or so), I feel as though I’m standing too straight, putting on airs, making myself too visible. I have this same experience when I’m interacting with (most) men, but in that case I can often notice my reaction and still maintain my posture. With my family, I feel guilty and bad for them - as though, by standing upright, I’m shaming them.
These are such interesting reflections Dana about the impact of context. As I look at myself in the wedding photos I can see the part of me that hates being the centre of attention wanting to make herself smaller with all the eyes that are on me. That curled in on our ourselves posture is one I tend to associate with shame. It's also fascinating how much we unconsciously mirror the posture of the people around us - perhaps a part of wanting to belong or fit in?
I have become more aware of my posture since taking up yoga many moons ago. However, it wasn't until recently, that my intermittent lower back pain began to be more persistent. My hips and pelvis were sore all the time, my knee would give way unexpectedly, I couldn't sit for long..I realised all was not well with my core. Somehow, my brain had lost contact with my core. I sought the help of an osteopath. I was also processing some personal issues.
I am even more aware now how important that part of my body is, and how a misaligned pelvis, diagnosed by my osteopath, affects how I stand, walk, sit and move. It is the cause of my knee problem. I had also become depressed, trying to process birth family issues ...something I've struggled with since childhood.
Looking into it more deeply and spiritually, I discovered that area of the body is where unprocessed negative emotions are stored. For a woman that part of the body holds onto the trauma of childbirth. I'm intrigued by the influence of the chakras and meridians on the human body. In my case the second chakra.
Discovering this about my 5 feet self has empowered me to stand tall, and shed psychic weight. Realigning my pelvis has enabled a huge emotional release and has been extremely powerful in terms of how I now stand up for myself and not crumple. I'm a true believer in the interconnectedness of the mind, body, spirit and what is in the macro is in the micro. In the end, life is about becoming whole.
That's a powerful illustration of how it is all interconnected Jules. I often wish our health system was less compartmentalised and more able to integrate these different parts of us and see the connections between them all. It's great to hear the progress you've made on your journey. Thanks for sharing your experiences here.
I needed to read these words of wisdom today. Thanks for the encouragement and reminders. I am going to "play" with moving my body in space, and in different ways this coming week 🙂
Fabulous Andrea, happy to hear it has inspired you 😀
"Look out world, here I come." 😍😍I loved everything about this, Vicki. My posture has been historically terrible, much like you described, as if trying to take up the least amount of space possible.
I've noticed since starting to practice martial arts and strength training in a public gym I've slowly become more and more confident and able to take up space in my daily life. There are times I catch myself hiding again and I consciously adjust my posture again. It's a practice.
Even now, I'm sitting in a café and had my arms crossed over themselves, shoulders rounded forward, and since reading this I've sat up straighter with my chest out and arms uncrossed. It's so subtle, but powerful.
Thanks for that Kaitlyn. It's amazing how deep this wiring can go. I've had a daily yoga practice for over a decade and yet still these patterns keep showing up! I'm so glad to hear it resonated with you (and that I'm not alone 😊)
Congratulations on your wedding Vicki! I love this essay so much, please shout it from the rooftops (which I often do!). I speak and write about this very thing, not only because I am a chiropractor by trade, but because how we stand and move projects our energetic field out into the world as well as affects our mindset and can shift our overall well-being.
Thanks Donna and yes, I wrote it as a reminder to myself as much as anyone else! I have learned so much from chiropractors and other body workers over the years 😊
Thank you for the lovely article! Back in the day when I did professional photography jobs, I used to find it fascinating to see people’s bodies vacillate between “on” for the camera and their habitual ways of moving through life. I wish I’d been better able to meld the two! I see the same kinds of shifts in my early adolescent son and his friends—puffing up at times with an attitude of confidence, crumpling into doubts and insecurity at others. What a great reminder to pay attention to this in myself and other adults in our daily lives!
Thanks Lori - yes, someone else mentioned the importance of context too, which is such a great point. It is an interesting window into our internal states at different times. That's such a great visual of your son and his adolescent friends and so relatable 😊
I am so grateful to be reading this as I step into a fresh week ahead. Thank you, Vicki.
After doing some bars on me last week, my reiki healer revealed to me that my 1st chakra is blocked. I have been intentionally incorporating mountain pose and other root based yoga poses throughout my day. Sprinkling reminders to stay /stand tall in my power not just when I am on the mat.
I am tall and as a child, never liked being taller than all my peers. So I slouched. I embrace my height now but I still carry some insecurities with me in my posture. I needed this reminder 🙏🏼
Oh yes, that's so relatable about being tall and trying to make yourself look smaller. Very common I think amongst taller people - it's so hard to stand out as a child! Thanks for your comments Allison 😊
Posture is everything. It affects your mood, your breathing, and how your body feels. A lot of chronic pain comes from years of poor posture. Yoga is filled with gentle (and extreme) back bending poses that undo the effects of gravity pulling us toward the Earth. A simple sun salutation can change how you feel, mentally and physically.
Yes, I so agree Janine. This is one of the (many) reasons why yoga has become a non-negotiable part of my day 😊
For sure!
I wholeheartedly support chiropractic care. I started seeing a chiropractor only a couple of months ago, but already most of my bodily pain and discomfort has gone. I've had years of poor posture as well as a bad horse accident, so it was long overdue.
That's fabulous Jessica. I have an awesome chiropractor too who works magic on my body 😃
Gotta find someone you like - and who listens to you 👌🏻
This whole 'invisibility posture' thing has been on my mind a lot lately, as well. Thanks for adding to that internal discussion.
Thanks for stopping by and reading Lori 😊
The science behind power posing is unfortunately not as straightforward as Amy Cuddy suggests in her Ted talk and scientific papers from 2015: it couldn't be replicated by other groups. A 2020 systematic review and meta-analysis performed by another group suggests that the lack of proper control groups makes it hard to draw any conclusions (link: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/1745691620919358). More here: https://www.bps.org.uk/psychologist/decade-power-posing-where-do-we-stand and here: https://bss.au.dk/en/insights/samfund-2/2020/power-posing-will-not-turn-you-into-superwoman.
That's not to say that moving your body and the way you stand will not affect how you feel (as someone who does yoga and runs a lot, I'm sure it will!). Just to say that the scientific evidence isn't as straightforward as you suggest.
Thanks Danielle. Yes I'm aware of this - the part I quote here has been well established in other studies, it's the part she claimed about hormone levels that has not been replicated. In my footnote I link to the updated research in this area.
Reading the 2020 systematic review that I link to in my comment above, I wouldn't dare to conclude that " expansive body postures generate increased feelings of power and confidence in research participants". The conclusion of that review states: "The results condense a heterogenic body of experimental research and suggest that **the absence of contractive displays is a stronger driver of the effects detected than the presence of expansive displays**. However, this suggestion should be viewed in light of the small sample of studies comparing expansive and neutral conditions as well as contractive and neutral conditions."
I will take a look. Clearly we've been reading different papers. Thanks for taking the time to link them here.
I really enjoyed reading this post, Vicki, thank you. And also to see @DanielleCounotte's comments as I have been deeply immersed in this world of "posture" (actually of NOT-posture!) for many decades. The ideas that F M Alexander, after whom The Alexander Technique was later named (and changed!), puts forward that it is our thinking that drives our movements and therefore if we change our thinking and the subsequent directions to the muscles to fire, we change what our body is reflecting. Or "The body expresses what the mind dwells upon". So stop the original thought/body response, eg. 'I want to be invisible', and the movement will be changed. We can ask ourselves to do this consciously and notice hugely impactful positive results.
The way I see what Amy Cuddy was demonstrating is that she actually changed her thoughts and desired results BEFORE she made a postural change and THERE is where the power is, not in what the resultant muscle action is doing. AND you get a feedback loop of; this doesn't feel like invisible to me anymore, I like this better I am going to continue with this and feel this positivity.
If we STOP the imposition of what we overlay on ourselves, organically we become the fuller expression of who we are naturally and organically, because our body is beautifully well made and flexible, even as we age. But this flies in the face of what we are told to believe about aging and our bodies generally. Instead we are told we need to fix them because they are weak and some even say 'poorly designed'. Quite the opposite of my experience.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts Emma. Yes, I believe the mind-body connection runs in both directions. Interestingly I think Amy Cuddy's research did control for this by giving participants a false pretext for holding certain shapes (no talk of power postures or expansive postures), but of course there are many ways to understand these findings. It's a fascinating area 😃