Walking around with slumped shoulders doesn’t exude confidence. But having good posture is about more than appearing tall and in charge.

The problem is we sit too much and overwork the front of our torsos by slouching behind computers during the day and smartphone screens at night.

The more we sit, the more it hurts to move and the less muscle we have to move with ease. To make matters worse, a sedentary lifestyle is often accompanied by a deficient diet. It’s a nasty culmination of events, resulting in poor posture, reduced energy, weak abs, weight gain and, of course, back pain.

While it is possible to ignore weight gain and deal with reduced energy for some time, it’s much harder to ignore back pain. Due to this, many people want a quick and easy fix for back pain and find that relief through prescribed pharmaceuticals. But these drugs only provide temporary relief and don’t treat the deeper issue.

Yes, part of the problem is sitting too much—and not correctly—and part of it is knowing what foods to eat and vitamins and supplements to take. But there’s often an emotional component to poor posture that gets overlooked.

Mind-body connection and becoming self-aware and empowered

The body and mind are connected. It’s true. In fact, every structure, cell and brain chemical has a language that communicates with all other parts. When healthy posture is lacking, it is possible that self-confidence would decrease and anxiety and depression would increase due to the communication taking place between body and brain. And the reverse could also be true: low self-esteem and depression could present obstacles to making healthy choices that contribute to a well-cared-for body and mind.

To treat depression and low self-esteem, talk to your health care professional about a recommended treatment plan and consider seeing a mental health counselor.

For matters related to posture and body alignment, cultivate self-awareness, self-discipline and curiosity. Seek out reliable information from trusted sources and find accountability. Also, stop by Nutrition World to learn about products that could enhance your well being, from supplements and fitness programs to essential oils.

Five steps to take for improved posture

Standing tall after years of slouching takes concentrated effort and many lifestyle changes. I recommend taking a proactive and proven approach that incorporates a variety of ways to improve posture:

Spend money on accumulating home and work furniture that is conducive to spinal alignment. The majority of chairs we sit in do not assist us in holding good posture and only encourage slouching.
Work on body alignment by investing in Kacelia Tru-Align, a 20-minute per day alignment system that offers incredible results, including height gain. Consistent use of Kacelia retrains the muscles on how to take their natural shape.

Nutrition World will be offering free Kacelia sessions. If you want to witness this powerful tool for improving posture, sign up by phone or stop by our store. We have signup sheets at our registers. To learn more about Kacelia, click here .

Consider yoga or personal training in order to balance the muscle structure by strengthening the weak parts of the body. Nutrition World offers Yoga. Click here for more information.
Add in regular visits to a skilled chiropractor. Nutrition World has been fortunate to partner with Dr. Brett Wheatcroft for many years. I personally go to him and continue to be very pleased with my results. Learn more about Dr. Wheatcroft here .
Supplement your diet with nutrients that assist in maintaining the integrity and flexibility of muscles and collagen. Magnesium, collagen, zinc, omega 3, adequate protein, vitamin K, vitamin C and vitamin D are everyday essentials.

As always, I encourage everyone to make time for regular physical activity most days of the week. Be sure your fitness plan includes two days of strength training.

If you are new to exercise or struggle to keep good posture when exercising, I recommend starting out slow and working with a trained professional.

What you don’t want to do is spend time exercising using poor posture. In the same way that misaligned tires will wear out quickly and cause a car to vibrate, poor posture when exercising can lead to injury.

Health maintenance matters

Any positive changes on these fronts are steps in the right direction but won’t completely outdo a lifetime of poor posture and unhealthy choices. For optimal wellness, continue to see your health care professional regularly.

Ed Jones is a Chattanooga holistic health expert who is passionate about natural health, holistic health, natural healing and physical fitness. He is a graduate of American Health Science University and received his associate in arts degree in 1978 from MTSU. He is also a professional member of the American Botanical Council, a nonprofit organization that helps people live healthier lives through responsible use of herbs and medicinal plants. He is constantly training in new areas, attends seminars across the country and has had personal interactions with many of today’s experts on natural health. He seeks to inspire and empower people to take control of their health through the use of holistic approaches to accomplish peak vitality and complete wellness.