Don’t compare your behind the scenes to others’ highlight reel

This is something we all do, it’s only human to look at how well others are doing, and compare and cringe. However, this is one of the most limiting and depressing things we can do to ourselves.

Here are a few reasons to do our best and curb this habit:

• There’s no upside to it. Unlike characters we all know from TV and fiction, comparing isn’t likely to help us achieve more but rather block our creativity.
• It’s never-ending. No matter how hard we work and how much we achieve, with a comparison mindset, it will always seem like others are doing better, effortlessly – and that’s just self-sabotage.
• We have no real idea what the other person’s life is really like. In the age of Instagram, we’re all really good at editing out the less camera-ready fights, tears, and mostly sweat.

Trick your brain into happiness – smile!

Now, we know that in so many of those situations, the last thing you feel like doing is smiling. Not only that, but asking people why they aren’t smiling when they’re experiencing difficulty can be downright annoying. So, don’t do it if you don’t feel like it and certainly don’t do it for anyone else. But if like us, you’re on the lookout for instant ways to feel better, consider that even just the sheer practice of stretching your mouth corners upward and looking at the mirror can spur a chemical reaction in the brain that can make you feel better. Worst case, you just made a funny face in your mirror or phone – maybe that could help, too!

 Tell yourself “I love you”

Affirmations are not about lying to yourself. They’re a super-powerful practice (which, we admit it, can definitely feel awkward at first) to train our brain into accepting new truths and beliefs about ourselves. Try starting from repeating a simple statement once a day (maybe just before you fall asleep or first thing in the morning when you’re still in that dream space) that is all about self-acceptance. Even Oprah does it! Over time, you may find that you start believing yourself.

Stand out, Stand Upright

Standing tall with your posture intact projects a strong, confident image, and just like smiling – it will also impact you from the outside in. Try taking a deep breath and then drop your shoulders as you exhale. Do you already feel better? Holding on to your posture while you sit, walk, and go about your day will help you boost your confidence, be happier, and send good vibes into the world.

Has any of these worked for you? What is one confidence-boosting habit you’re ready to take into your life right now?

The post How To Work On Our Confidence And Self acceptance appeared first on UPRIGHT Posture Training Device.

Where do you start?

Commit to setting aside time on a daily or weekly basis to strengthen your body. Next, you’ll need to find some space in your home. You don’t need much room, but you do need enough to stretch in all directions. To test the space, stand in the center, stretch your arms straight out at your sides, and do a spin or two. If you don’t hit anything, you have enough room. Common spaces you might try are the space at the foot of your bed, an office that doubles as your hobby room, or a living room that allows you to slightly push back the couch. Once you’ve got your space and time, put on your workout clothes and grab a water bottle because you are ready to go.

Important Note: No one knows your body better than you do, so always work within your own range of limits and abilities. If you have any medical concerns, talk with your doctor before practicing any of the suggested exercises.
Don’t try to “work through” the pain, says Dr. Mark Kovacs, who has a doctoral degree in sports medicine and experience as a former tennis professional. “Those pain receptors are there for a reason.”

Stretching exercises to improve posture:

Stretching is a great way to loosen your muscles before a workout so you don’t strain anything, ease your muscles after intense exertion for optimal recovery, or to relax your body before bed. Try adding these stretches throughout your day or into your workout warm-up and cool down.  

1. Child’s Pose

   Child’s Pose helps to stretch the hips, thighs, and ankles while reducing stress and fatigue. It gently relaxes the muscles on the front of the body while softly and passively stretching the muscles of the back torso.
   Be careful if you have a current or recent knee injury. If you are pregnant you should only practice a wide-legged variation of the pose — do not press the belly on top of the thighs.

   
   

2. Pelvic Tilt Stretch

   Your pelvis helps you walk, run, and lift our weight off the ground. It also contributes to proper posture. Excessive sitting without enough movement and stretching could cause a state of what we call an anterior pelvic tilt, which is when your pelvis is rotated forward and forces your spine to curve.

   
   

3. Hip Flexor stretch

   Hip flexor stretches are important to help counterbalance the prolonged hip flexion of sitting for hours. If left unstretched, shortened hip flexors affect the position of the pelvis, which in turn affects the position and movement of the lower back. And no one wants a tight or painful lower back.

   
   

4. Piriformis Muscle Stretch

   First of all, what is your piriformis? The Piriformis is a muscle that lies in your buttocks and helps connect your spine to your legs. A tight piriformis from slouching in a chair with your hips rotated outward puts a lot of strain on your low back and makes your hips so tight that you can create an imbalance in the entire system.

   
   

5. Standing side stretches

   This brings balance to your entire body. The stretch lengthens the abdominal muscles, hips, and thigh muscles while improving flexibility in the spine. Side bends also stretch the muscles between the ribs (the intercostal muscles). These muscles can get short and tight in daily life, due to too much time spent sitting or slouching. Stretching out the intercostals can also open up the ribcage and lungs, which will improve your breathing capacity.

   
   

Strengthening exercises to improve posture:

Strengthening exercises help build, tone, and sustain your muscles. By strengthening your core, back, and shoulders your muscles can better support your body in maintaining and improving posture. Over time you’ll want to increase your repetitions or intensity to provide the same strengthening effect.

1. Prone Back Extension

   Performing the back extension exercise will increase your ability to coordinate movement through your lower back. Other improvements include a stronger back and a back that has more endurance. Overall, these positives lead to better overall back posture, important for the prevention of back injury.
   Another variation of the back extension is holding the ‘arch’ position for a more extended period and performing fewer reps. Lift your feet and shoulders off the ground like the back extension, but place your arms either directly in front of you, reaching straight up from your shoulders; slightly angled out from your shoulders, in a ‘Y’ position, or straight out to your sides in a ‘T’ position. To add intensity you can pulse your arms in these positions, moving up and down for 30 seconds without coming back to the ground. This exercise is sometimes referred to as the ‘boat’ exercise because your body forms the shape of a rowboat.
   
   
   

2. Lying Lateral Leg Raises

   This exercise is beneficial as it enhances posture, flexibility, balance, and limb speed. It involves many groups of muscles of your lower body: side hip flexors, thighs, glutes, hamstrings, calves, and obliques as well.
   
   
   

3. The Bird Dog

   The bird dog is a simple core exercise that improves stability, encourages a neutral spine, and relieves low back pain. It strengthens your core, hips, and back muscles. It also promotes proper posture and increases range of motion.
   
   
   

4. Hollow Holds

   The hollow hold works the body’s anterior chain — the muscles in the front of the body — including abs, diaphragm, hip flexors, and quads. In addition to building strength, stability, and body control, hollow holds boast back-friendly positioning by placing the body into a posterior pelvic tilt.

   
   
   

5. Dead Bug

   Yes, that is the real name for this exercise, the dead bug is an excellent exercise for promoting total core stability while improving contra-lateral limb engagement. This basically means the exercise helps teach you to effectively move opposing limbs in tandem while keeping your core stable and your back protected. In other words, anyone who’s ever accidentally tripped on a rough sidewalk or been knocked off-balance after hitting into a misplaced chair knows that it doesn’t take much to lose control of your core.

   
   
   

I wish you all an UPRIGHT day 🙂

The post Exercises To Improve Your Posture – Home Workout Guide appeared first on UPRIGHT Posture Training Device.

“What is your biggest weakness?” is always a tricky interview question. Oftentimes, the answer will be staring the interviewer in the face before you’ve even said a word.

For many of us, poor posture is that weakness, though we might not realize it. The nonverbal cues we send via our body language can easily affect the outcome of a job interview. That’s why it’s so important to choose our body positions as carefully as we do our words.

Prep for the big day with an UPRIGHT GO 2 smart posture trainer.

The Science Behind Interview Posture: Fake it Till You Make It

How many times have you gone into a job interview feeling less than confident? Don’t worry, it’s perfectly normal to be nervous in a high-pressure situation, especially when you’re trying to impress. The trick is to get a handle on your nerves and not let them get the better of you.

“Power poses don’t just reflect power, they produce it.”

Mind Games: The Psychology of Interview Posture

Now, you’re probably wondering how you can project an air of confidence when, deep down, you’re a bundle of nerves. The answer lies in a 2012 Harvard University study entitled The Benefit of Power Posing Before a High-Stakes Social Evaluation. The study found that adopting an open, relaxed body position – or “high-power” pose – doesn’t just reflect power, it produces it. In other words, the way you hold your body can actually trick your brain into feeling confident. Pretty mind-blowing stuff! So roll your shoulders back, keep your chin up, and get ready to rock an interview.

It all happens on a chemical level. Power posing increases the production of the dominance hormone testosterone, making you feel like the powerful, action-oriented risk-taker you want to be seen as. At the same time, it decreases the stress hormone cortisol, which is responsible for those pesky interview jitters that hold you back.

Participants in the Harvard study were required to deliver a speech while in either a high or low-power pose as part of a mock interview. Interestingly, the high-power posers performed better and were considered more employable than those with a closed-off or “low-power” body position. Let that be an incentive to improve your posture and tap into your inner strength.

Pre-Interview Power Posing Techniques

You can also prep for your big interview with extra powerful power poses ahead of time. That’s right, power posing isn’t limited to your interview sitting position. In fact, many people prep for nerve-wracking events by spreading their feet a little larger than shoulder-width and raising their hands high in the air, making their body into a giant ‘X.’ While you may feel silly at first, holding this position truly works your hormones to give you the confidence ‘X’ Factor. Do your power posing at home in your room, alone on the elevator, or standing in the bathroom right before your interview.

Make a Good First Impression with Proper Interview Posture

As you wait to meet the interviewer, be aware that the receptionist or potential future colleagues might be observing you. This is the perfect time for you to get into a confident upright posture with your back straight and your chin parallel to the ground. Your posture during interview waiting time sets the tone for everything that follows.

Interviewers are usually busy people who have to make quick decisions. In fact, they’ll often size you up in the first 10 seconds of meeting you. Their assessment starts the moment you enter the room, which is why you should walk in with purpose and energy, but never strut.

With your shoulders pulled back and your neck extended, walk directly toward the interviewer, maintaining eye contact. A friendly smile and a firm handshake show confidence and will help create an instant bond.

How to Sit in an Interview: The Complete Guide

How to sit during an interview is one of the most important aspects of your body language. Your interview sitting position says more about you than you may realize and can significantly impact the interviewer’s perception of your confidence and professionalism.

Basic Interview Sitting Position

When the interviewer offers you a seat, sit with your back straight (but not too stiff) against the chair, feet firmly on the floor. You might find it useful to imagine an invisible string pulling you up from the top of your head. This creates the ideal interview sitting position that projects confidence and alertness.

What NOT to Do: Common Interview Posture Mistakes

• Leaning back in your chair: May be interpreted as a lack of interest in the job or a careless attitude
• Slouching forward: Can indicate nervousness and low self-esteem
• Crossing your arms: Might give the impression that you’re defensive or standoffish
• Crossing your legs at the knee: Can appear too casual for some interview settings
• Fidgeting or moving around: Shows nervousness and lack of control

Perfect Interview Sitting Position Checklist

• ✅ Back straight against the chair (not rigid, but supported)
• ✅ Feet flat on the floor (both feet, no crossing)
• ✅ Shoulders back and relaxed (not hunched forward)
• ✅ Hands placed naturally (on lap or table, not hidden)
• ✅ Head held high (chin parallel to ground)
• ✅ Slight forward lean (shows engagement, not slouching)

How to Sit in an Interview Female vs Male: Gender-Specific Tips

While the basic principles of good interview posture apply to everyone, there are some gender-specific considerations for how to sit during an interview.

How to Sit in an Interview Female

If you are interviewing in a dress or skirt, cross your legs at the ankle to maintain polite manners without giving off an adverse demeanor. This sitting posture for interview maintains professionalism while being comfortable.

Additional Tips for Women:

• Ankle crossing: More professional than knee crossing in business attire
• Hand placement: Keep hands visible, either on lap or table
• Posture consistency: Maintain the same professional posture throughout
• Avoid fidgeting: Resist urges to adjust clothing or hair repeatedly

How to Sit in an Interview Male

Men can typically sit with feet flat on the floor, knees slightly apart (not wide), maintaining a confident but respectful interview sitting position.

Additional Tips for Men:

• Foot positioning: Both feet flat, shoulder-width apart
• Avoid manspreading: Keep knees at reasonable distance
• Confident stance: Sit tall without appearing rigid
• Professional demeanor: Maintain formality throughout the interview

Advanced Interview Posture Techniques

The Psychology of Sitting Posture in Interview Settings

Good upright posture not only projects confidence but also makes you appear taller, which is considered by many to be a sign of intelligence and credibility. You’ve heard of dressing for success. Well, think of this as sitting for success!

Using Hand Gestures Effectively During Interview

If you naturally talk with your hands, it’s fine to do that in the interview as long as your gestures aren’t overly enthusiastic or aggressive and you commit to your style. Using your hands halfway or apprehensively can be a tell of your nerves. Choose to use smooth, natural gestures or no gestures at all.

Hand Gesture Guidelines:

• Natural movements: Use gestures that feel comfortable to you
• Avoid sharp motions: No “karate-chop” gestures when making points
• No pointing: Keep gestures open and inclusive
• Control fidgeting: Avoid cracking knuckles or picking at nails

Best Hand Positions for Interview Sitting Position:

• Loosely clasped: Fingers together, resting on lap or table
• Church steeple: Fingertips pressed together for confidence
• Open palms: Shows honesty and engagement
• Avoid hiding hands: Don’t put them in pockets or under table

Maintaining Appropriate Eye Contact During Interview

Emphasis on the word appropriate.

Maintaining eye contact with the interviewer is important for a few reasons; it shows that you’re giving them your undivided attention and also that you’re trustworthy. However, you’ll want to strike the right balance as part of your overall interview posture.

Eye Contact Best Practices:

• Natural rhythm: Alternate between eyes, nose, and mouth every few seconds
• Active listening: Use occasional head nods and smiles
• Direct contact: Always return to eye contact when answering questions
• Avoid staring: Don’t burn holes with intense gazing
• Don’t avoid completely: This makes you appear shifty

Mirror the Interviewer’s Body Language

One of the fastest ways to establish good rapport with the interviewer is to adopt similar gestures, facial expressions, or posture as them. While mimicking their behavior might sound disrespectful at first, “mirroring” is actually a proven technique for building trust in a relationship.

Mirroring Techniques:

• Subtle copying: Match their level of formality in sitting posture
• Energy matching: If they’re relaxed, let your posture reflect that
• Natural flow: Maintain neutral spine while adjusting
• Don’t overdo it: Subtle mirroring, not obvious copying

Interview Sitting Position for Different Interview Types

Formal Corporate Interviews

Maintain a more structured interview sitting position with feet flat on floor, back straight, and hands visible. Professional formality is key.

Casual/Startup Interviews

While you can be slightly more relaxed, maintain professional posture during interview. Good posture always makes a positive impression.

Panel Interviews

Your sitting posture for interview becomes even more important when multiple people are observing. Maintain consistent good posture and engage with each panel member.

Video Interviews

Even though only your upper body is visible, maintain full good posture. It affects your voice, confidence, and overall presence on camera.

Common Interview Posture Questions Answered

How should I sit during an interview if I’m nervous?

Focus on your breathing and the basic interview sitting position: feet flat, back straight, shoulders relaxed. Use the “invisible string” technique to maintain good posture.

What if the chair is uncomfortable?

Adapt your interview sitting position to the furniture while maintaining the core principles: straight back, engaged posture, and professional appearance.

How long should I maintain perfect posture during interview?

Throughout the entire interview. Consistency in your posture during interview shows discipline and professionalism.

Should my interview posture change for different types of questions?

Maintain the same professional sitting posture for interview throughout, but you can lean slightly forward during particularly engaging topics to show interest.

Beyond the Interview: Maintaining Professional Posture

Of course, knowing how to sit in an interview is only half the battle. You’ll want to maintain that good form once you start working, as correct posture in the office is essential to your focus, productivity, and general wellbeing.

Building Long-Term Posture Habits

Your interview success with proper posture during interview can extend into your career. Good posture becomes a professional asset that serves you throughout your working life.

Technology to Perfect Your Interview Posture

Preparing for interviews requires practice, and maintaining perfect interview sitting position takes awareness and training. Modern posture training technology can help you develop the muscle memory and awareness needed for confident interview posture.

Ready to sit (and stand) head and shoulders above the competition? Pick up an UPRIGHT GO 2 today and fulfill your true potential.

Benefits of Posture Training for Interview Success:

• Muscle memory development: Automatic good posture without thinking
• Confidence building: Better posture leads to better self-image
• Real-time feedback: Learn to recognize and correct poor posture
• Consistent improvement: Daily training for lasting results

Your body language has a significant influence on the outcome of a job interview. By mastering how to sit during an interview and maintaining proper interview posture, you’re giving yourself the best possible chance at success. Remember: your interview sitting position, posture during interview, and overall professional presence all work together to create a winning impression.

The post How to Sit in an Interview and Get Hired appeared first on UPRIGHT Posture Training Device.

“Human beings were not meant to sit in little cubicles staring at computer screens all day.”

Whether you’re stationed in a cubicle or out in an open space, working 9 to 5 isn’t easy on your mind, body, or soul. Four-thirty rolls around and not only are you mentally checked out, but your aching back is begging for a massage. The pain can be so distracting, it’s all you can think about. Your health suffers, your work suffers, and around and around it goes.

However, unlike annoying coworkers and printer errors, this is one office problem that’s actually fixable. And it’s a lot easier than you think.

Achieve the posture habits of highly successful people with the UPRIGHT GO 2 smart posture trainer.

Posture in the office: Setting up

Bad posture rears its ugly head in a number of ways and with varying degrees of severity. The most common sign your spine’s out of whack is back pain, which is often accompanied by headaches and/or loss of balance. Many office workers experience sudden back pain when starting a new job due to their workstation being improperly set up. The pain usually starts in the neck then spreads to the upper and lower back, before making its way down the legs. Switching positions may offer some temporary relief, but unless you change your long-term posture habits, the pain will probably return. It’s worth talking to your new employer to see if they’ll provide you with an ergonomic chair, footrest, and/or monitor stand. Play your cards right and they might even set you up with one of those fancy standing desks everyone’s talking about.

Posture in the office: Present your best self

How are your KPIs looking this quarter? Of course, I’m talking about your Key Posture Indicators; those visual cues that determine whether you’re sitting up straight at your desk or standing tall by the whiteboard. Besides the obvious physical benefits of good posture in the office, striking the correct power pose has significant psychological benefits too. How you carry your body alters the way others perceive you and a confident posture can give you the upper hand in interviews and negotiations. It’s not enough to spend time perfecting your PowerPoint presentations if you don’t devote that same level of attention to how you present yourself.

Posture in the office: Action items

So you didn’t get that big promotion you were hoping for. Here are 5 tips that’ll give you an instant raise:

1. Get up and stretch

Achieving and maintaining good posture in the office can be tiring – there’s no doubt about it. You are, after all, working a lot of ab muscles to keep your body aligned.

The best way to avoid muscle stiffness and fatigue is to get up every once in a while and stretch. Go ahead, try this out. Stand with your feet parallel, chin held high, and arms outstretched in a horizontal line, as if saying “hello” to the world. Repeat this pose 10 times throughout the day.

If you don’t feel comfortable stretching in front of your colleagues, get up and walk around the office. Any movement will reinvigorate the body and re-engage your back and core muscles.

2. Raise your screen

One of the major causes of the current “screen slouching” epidemic is the height of your screen. All too often, computers are set up with their screens below eye level. This can lead to an uncomfortable forward head movement and a lot of pain.

The solution is to raise your screen to eye level using a laptop stand/stack of books. If you happen to have more than one screen, make sure both are at the same level. Additionally, position your chair so that you’re sitting at arm’s length from the screen. This will prevent you from leaning forward and putting unnecessary strain on your neck.

3. Position your limbs

Those things on either side of your chair are called armrests for a reason! When used as intended, your arms should form a 90-degree angle. If you overstretch your arms, you’ll weaken your back muscles, which can lead to pain. To avoid this, keep your keyboard, mouse, and anything else you might need throughout the day within easy reach. Also, consider investing in a gel wrist rest to prevent discomfort/injury while typing.

It’s a little-known fact that crossing your legs while seated is a big posture no-no. This popular position actually puts a lot of stress on your leg muscles and lower back, which is one of the many reasons your lower back may hurt so much. When you sit down, make sure that both of your feet are flat on the ground and your knees are at a 90-degree angle.

4. Use a headset

We’re all expected to multitask at work and talking on the phone while performing other tasks is our favorite timesaver. But did you know that placing your phone between your ear and your neck creates muscle tension? To avoid “text neck”, use a headset so you can talk on the phone and continue working without putting your neck and shoulders at risk.

5. Set a reminder

With a never-ending stream of emails to read through, presentations to write, and meetings to feign interest in, it’s easy to neglect our posture.

Not so with the UPRIGHT GO 2 smart posture trainer. Slap this ingenious little device on your back and it’ll gently vibrate whenever you slouch, reminding you to straighten up. As your new posture habit starts to form, you’ll need fewer reminders. And because the device is super discreet, you can wear it during meetings without anyone ever knowing!

So there you have it, folks. A few practical tips to combat back and neck pain in the office while boosting productivity and confidence. And it only takes some minor adjustments to your workspace and posture habits. All in a day’s work!

Give your posture the promotion it deserves with the UPRIGHT GO 2.

Ready for a different kind of tech support? Discover the 4 wellness gadgets you need in your office.

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Picture the scene. It’s the end of a long day and you’re sitting on the couch with your head buried in your smartphone, shoulders slouched forward. All of a sudden, your significant other breaks the silence: “You’ll never guess who I ran into today.” What do you do? Do you straighten your back, look up, and engage them in polite chitchat or do you continue scrolling as if it never happened?

You might not realize it, but the nonverbal cues you choose to send your partner in this moment may shape the course of your relationship.

Read on to find out how the body language of love can strengthen your bond while demonstrating what an attentive, caring person you are.

Perfecting the body language of love

Say it with poses! Pick up an UPRIGHT GO 2 smart posture trainer and improve your nonverbal communication skills.

Why good posture is #relationshipgoals

In the mood for love? It’s a little-known fact that striking an open, confident pose can actually reduce your stress hormones, elevating your mood. As a result, you’ll come across as more sympathetic and pleasant to be around. It’s a life hack worth remembering, especially if you’re nervous about going on a date or making a good first impression.

Of course, you’ll have every reason to feel confident as good posture makes you appear taller, slimmer, and dare we say more attractive? When you own your body, that self-assuredness is conveyed through your body language and others can pick up on it.

Good posture also serves your relationship by enabling you to be present in the moment and laser-focused on your partner. That’s right – holding your back straight increases the flow of oxygen to the brain, improving cognitive function and mental clarity. Now there’s no excuse for you not to give your other half the undivided attention he/she deserves.

Spoiler alert: Your posture is giving you away

Expressing our thoughts isn’t always the easiest thing to do, especially when we’re worried about how they might be received. For instance, how do you tell someone you care about that you miss them or that you need your space? The body language of love says all those things you’re too afraid to speak about – without saying a word. That’s why it’s important not just to understand nonverbal communication, but to become fluent in it.

Lower your guard

You can tell a lot about the dynamics of a couple’s relationship based on how they sit together. Psychologists have found that sitting across the table from someone can create a defensive, competitive atmosphere. If one person sits taller or straighter than the other, they may give off an air of superiority, whereas sitting lower or hunched over may give the impression of weakness or defensiveness. Don’t be that couple! Embrace equality by sitting next to each other at the dinner table or mirroring your partner’s body language.

Reflect on this

Ever noticed how some salespeople will copy a customer’s gestures, movements, or posture? This is known as mirroring; it’s an effective technique that’s used to get to know someone and establish trust. Mirroring occurs in romantic relationships too, albeit on a subconscious level. We do this primarily to form a deeper, non-verbal connection with potential partners. Because our brains are wired to be attracted to people who are just like us, it puts us at ease with one another. If you’re in a new relationship, try subtly mirroring your partner’s behavior, without making it too obvious.

Make eye contact

Distractions are all around us. Technology makes it especially tempting to multitask while our partner is trying to engage us in conversation. But staring down at your phone and making reassuring “mm-hmm” sounds is not the way to show you care; quite the opposite, in fact. It’s also pretty bad for your spine and can lead to text neck, which is never a good look. If you really want to win your partner’s affection, try giving them your undivided attention. When they ask you a question or tell you a story, turn toward them, look into their eyes – softly, this isn’t a staring contest – and nod your head. It sounds simple enough because it is.

Uncross your arms and legs

Oftentimes, when we’re uncomfortable or uninterested in a conversation, we’ll cross our legs, twisting our body away from our partner. Not only is this seen as disrespectful, but it could actually lead to lower back pain. And nothing kills the mood faster than crying out for pain killers!

The more attentive you are to your posture, the more your partner will feel cared for and, ultimately, loved. An open body position, with your arms and legs uncrossed, is friendly and inviting. Try it the next time the two of you are having a conversation and see how it improves your communication.

The body language of love: Easy as ABC

OK, let’s recap. Our body language shows how we really feel, regardless of the words we use. This means our posture can dramatically impact our relationships and foster deeper connections with the people we truly love.

Here’s a useful mnemonic to help you remember the advice in this article:

A is for awareness
The first step in adopting a kinder, more considerate body language is to be mindful of how you carry yourself when you’re with your significant other.

B is for body position
An upright, open posture shows that you care enough about your partner to pay attention to what they’re saying. Extra brownie points for making eye contact!

C is for communication
Good posture enables you to better express your thoughts and feelings through nonverbal cues, which is great if talking isn’t your strong suit.

Ready to master the body language of love? Take home an UPRIGHT GO 2 smart posture trainer today – you don’t even have to buy it dinner first!

The post Do You Speak the Body Language of Love? appeared first on UPRIGHT Posture Training Device.

You’re reading this sitting down, aren’t you? No, wait – you’re lying on your bed, holding your phone out in front of you. Scratch that. The title of this article stopped you in your tracks, so you must be standing up. These are just a few of the many positions, or postures, in which we hold our bodies every day. Given all the different ways we carry ourselves, it makes sense that there’s more than one correct type of posture.

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The good, the bad & the upright

Good posture, in all its forms, occurs when your body parts are correctly aligned and your muscles are exerting just enough tension to keep you upright. Without this postural framework, we’d succumb to the forces of gravity and collapse like a ragdoll.

The problem is that for most of us, maintaining proper posture is not even on our radar. It’s one of those unconscious behaviors that we leave up to certain muscle groups – namely the hamstrings and large back muscles. Along with our ligaments, which help to hold our bones together, these postural muscles keep up us from toppling over. They also support our posture, allowing us to remain balanced as we move around. In short, they’re kind of a big deal.

Why is good posture so important?

For a start, it minimizes the strain that’s placed on supporting muscles and ligaments when we adopt various body positions. This isn’t limited to just standing, sitting, and lying down; correct posture is crucial during movement and load-bearing activities too.

Proper carriage is like an insurance policy for your body. It keeps your bones and joints in alignment and ensures that your muscles are functioning optimally. The less wear and tear on your joints, the less likely you are to develop degenerative arthritis or joint pain. Good posture also reduces the risk of injury by taking the pressure off the ligaments that hold your spine together.

Flex appeal: maintaining your muscles

If you’ve ever experienced muscle fatigue, it may have been due to incorrect body alignment. The good news is that this is preventable with a few simple tweaks. By adopting a healthy body position, your muscles can work more efficiently and expend less energy. What’s more, it’s an effective way to prevent the aches, pains, and strains that come from overusing your muscles.

To maintain an ideal posture, your muscles must be strong and flexible, your joints should have adequate range of motion (especially those in your spine). As for the postural muscles we talked about earlier, they should be evenly balanced on either side of your spine.

Perhaps one of the most critical times to maintain correct posture is when lifting (heavy) items. Ideally, you should be standing with your feet shoulder-width apart, your chest elevated, and your head centered over your shoulders. Bend at the knees and use your leg muscles for extra leverage rather than your lower back. Failure to assume the correct stance may result in your joints and muscles underperforming and increase the risk of damage.

What happens if we don’t change our errant ways?

When we hold our bodies in certain positions for long stretches, our postural muscles are under a great deal of strain. Nowhere is this more evident than in the workplace, where people spend hours a day leaning forward at their desks. As their postural muscles relax into a slouched position, they become more prone to injury and back pain.

Of course, we also see poor posture outside of the office. Typically, it occurs in people who are stressed or whose postural muscles are either too weak or too tight. Pregnant women and the obese also struggle with an imbalanced center of gravity, which can contribute to bad posture. Not even women who wear high-heeled shoes are safe!

What’s the prognosis for poor posture?

Actually, it’s pretty good. Improving your body alignment is as straightforward as forming healthy new posture habits through increased mindfulness. A smart posture trainer like the UPRIGHT GO 2 will have you self-correcting the way you stand, sit, lie, and move in no time. You’ll be amazed at how easy it is – when properly motivated – to undo years of slouching and build new habits. It’s also worth consulting a licensed chiropractor or physical therapist who will be able to recommend suitable core and back-strengthening exercises. They can advise you on the right postures for specific activities, as well as how to safely transition between them.

Need a little reminder about the do’s and don’t’s of sitting and standing posture? This article has some useful tips. And if all this talk of posture is making you sleepy, be sure to read our blog post on correct sleeping posture.

Make good posture a priority – pick up an UPRIGHT GO 2 today!

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