Good posture can do a lot to help people make a positive first impression when they meet others, whether they’re doing so at work or at a party. Your posture can make you look taller than you are and give you an air of authority and command.
There are plenty of reasons to study the martial arts and improving posture is one of them. While the connection between martial arts and good posture might not be immediately apparent, the truth is that there are several ways that studying the martial arts can lead to better posture.
Why Do People Have Bad Posture?
Good posture begins with good physical health. Here are some of the things that can contribute to poor posture.
- Being overweight or obese. Carrying extra weight, particularly in the abdomen, puts stress on the spine and may lead to poor posture.
- A lack of muscle tone. Muscles in the back, shoulders, buttocks, and abdomen all help to support the spine and keep it straight. When a person doesn’t have good muscle tone in these areas, the result may be less-than-ideal posture.
- A lack of mindfulness about body positioning. Many people who don’t have good posture slouch without realizing that they’re doing so. A lack of awareness can be a contributing factor to bad posture.
- Low self-esteem. Even people who are in good physical shape may slouch to try to appear smaller if they don’t have good self-esteem.
Any of these things, alone or in combination, may cause or contribute to bad posture. The good news is that they are all correctable.
How Can Martial Arts Training Correct Poor Posture?
Martial arts training provides a full-body workout that helps martial artists build strength and get proper posture.
Martial Arts Practice Builds Upper Body Strength
Learning a martial art provides students with regular workouts that build upper body strength. Strengthening the muscles in the back, shoulders, and chest can help to improve posture by making it easy to stand up straight.
Martial Arts Practice Builds Core Strength
Your core muscles are responsible for supporting your spine and helping you stand straight and tall. Because martial arts training provides a workout for your whole body, it strengthens core muscles and improves posture.
Martial Arts Increases Energy
Working out expends energy but it also gives you more energy. When you feel energetic, it’s easy to support your body by standing tall even at the end of a long day.
Martial Arts Improves Mindfulness
Studying any martial art, whether you learn for self-defense or just to stay in shape, improves your mindfulness as it relates to your body. Martial arts training helps martial artists build a strong mind-body connection and that makes it less likely that you’ll slouch or have bad posture.
What Are the Benefits of Improving Your Posture?
Having good posture provides several significant health benefits that you should know about.
- Increased confidence. When your posture is good, you are more likely to feel good about yourself–and not just physically. Excellent posture can make you more confident in every area of your life.
- Increased energy. Slouching can be tiring because, whether you’re sitting or standing, your spine is being strained in a way that saps you of energy. Good posture can increase your energy.
- Improved breathing. When your body is in a slouched position, it may reduce your lung capacity. Standing straight and tall means that your lungs can fill with air.
- Less back pain. When your posture isn’t good, back pain is a frequent result. People with good posture are less likely to experience back pain than those with bad posture.
- Fewer headaches. People who don’t have good posture may carry a lot of tension in their necks and shoulders and that can cause headaches. Improving your posture may also reduce the number of headaches you experience.
As you can see, martial arts training can help you improve your posture and reap the many benefits of having good posture.