Posture of the month

Posture of the month by Cathy Underwood
Creative director of the award winning YOGA4MUMS


Great Posture

The Economist featured an interesting article this month entitled ‘The power of posture’ drawing on research compiled by the University of Illinois. The piece suggests that how you hold yourself affects how you view yourself.

With over 20 years of experience teaching fitness and yoga techniques my first reaction was ‘well duh!’ To me it seems obvious that to stand tall makes anyone feel better as it brings the body into correct alignment, one can breathe better and it is an active stance that inspires confidence.

The article concludes that ‘those who walk around with their heads held high not only get the respect of others, they seem also to respect themselves’

Inspired by these words our posture of the month has to be:

Samasthiti – the equal pose

Primary function:
• To begin and end the sun salutations, also used for stabilising before and after other postures
Secondary function:
• An opportunity to correct alignment and restore free breathing

Set up:
• Stand tall with feet together
• Spread your body weight evenly across both feet
• Find neutral spine
• Activate core awareness and breathe freely
• Gaze ahead

Performance:
• Energise posture rooting down through the feet, arms, hands and fingers
• Draw awareness to the core/ bandhas
• Imagine energy lifting up through the spine and out through the top of the head

Avoid:
• Fallen arches, locking knees, looking down

Modifications:
• Separate the feet and soften the knees for more stability

Final point:
• Smile, you’re awesome!

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