New Year’s resolutions are many, but New Decade goals are a whole new ball game. Our bodies change in 1-day, 1-week, 1-month cycles as well as 1-year, 3-year, 5-year cycles. For example, some fevers can be a 24-48-hour cycle depending what is causing the fever; many of us will “pull something” in our neck or back (again depending on many factors) can be resolved or at least greatly improved within a 1-week to 1-month cycle. More serious conditions such as coronary disease, cancers, degenerative joint conditions (arthritis of spine, hip, knee, shoulder, etc.), auto-immune conditions and many more take the longer cycle: 1-year, 3-year, 5-year cycle before we become aware of them. Most of us make promises (resolutions) such as start a new diet, exercise more, be nice and forgive others, which is all well and good, but one thing that some of us lose sight of is a very simple one- “Good Posture”. Many of you have come to the clinic over the years with neck, headache, low back and leg pain that your posture at work and/or home is a causative and/or contributing factor to how you feel. Posture also affects heart, lung, digestive and eliminative functions too. The big secret to “Good Posture” is not just exercise (which is good for overall health) but your constant awareness of your posture. Your “Mind-Body Connection” must become a habit like bathing and dental hygiene. So, pull those shoulders back, tuck that chin and “engage” that six pack as you sit, stand, and walk to make the next decade be the best that you can be!
P.S. Google Bruegger’s and YTWL postural exercises.