Did you catch Miley Cyrus on the red carpet during this year's Oscars? Her gorgeous Jenny Packham gown was overshadowed by her hunched-over posture. She was joined by repeat slouching offender Kristen Stewart, who stood slightly taller than usual on the red carpet. Besides not looking so hot, slouching can erase all of the hard work you've done at the gym and affect future workouts.
Here, a few tips on checking and improving your posture:
- Did you know standing just a little bit taller can make you look 10 pounds lighter? That's right, it's that simple. To instantly drop the pounds, try this posture checklist.
- Consider trying a Pilates class, even just once. Pilates focuses on your all-important core and encourages great posture by engaging your deep ab muscles and keeping your spine neutral.
- Perform a quick posture check during the day. Get into the habit of checking your posture each time you do a repetitive activity like going to the ATM, standing in line for your morning coffee, or waiting for a traffic light to turn green.
- Bad posture can even cause back pain. If you don't notice an improvement simply sitting and standing a little bit straighter, try the Alexander Technique, which teaches basic body mechanics while improving posture.
Not only will improved posture make you look taller and thinner, it'll help your running and walking workouts
