The next time you feel tired, stiff or stressed out, focus on your posture, breathing and kinesiology (the way your body moves).
There is an amazing correlation between our emotional state and our physiological state.
Negative feelings and emotions can trigger changes in our posture. When we are feeling sad or depressed, our heads will usually flex forward in a tired nod, our shoulders will slump, and our backbones slouch.
It’s easy to understand how emotions affect our posture. We experience this everyday. We can sense through the observation of postural body language when someone is having a bad day.
But the opposite is true as well. Just as emotions affect our posture, our posture can influence our emotions. For certain!
This is an important fact to know. Because the next time you feel depressed or stressed out, if you can remember to focus on your posture, breathing and kinesiology and make positive changes to these aspects of your physiology, you will see improvements in your emotional state as well.
From now on, when you begin to feel the stressful effects of a hectic day, immediately assess your posture and make the necessary corrections. Keep the neck upright with your ears right above the middle of the shoulders. Imagine a balloon tied to the top of your head and try to feel the tug of the string pulling your neck upwards toward the sky. Make sure your weight distribution over both the right and left feet are balanced equally (or if you’re sitting, the right and left sides of your okole). Check your shoulders and hips to make sure that they are level to the floor. Ever so slightly, squeeze your shoulder blades together. Tighten your abdominal muscles just a little bit. Make sure your lower back curve is in a strong position - not bending forward at the waist or swaying backwards.
There now! You’re looking good!
Now with your body maintaining this improved posture, breathe. Breathe deeply, nice and slow. In. Out. In. Out. Oxygenate the blood.
Auryte! K-den, with your corrected posture and excellent breathing, begin to move with energy. Increase the speed of your movements, not like a hyperactive kid on a sugar-high, but as the quick, strong dancer of the hula kahiko . Feel the power and vitality of your body as you flex your muscles. Walk, stand, express yourself with purpose and confidence. Accentuate the grace of each muscle contraction.
And most importantly, put a smile on your face!
To review, try these simple steps the next time you feel tired and gloomy:
- Fix your posture
- Breathe deep
- Move quickly with strengthe and purpose
- Smile!
You will discover that by focusing on these four important aspects of your physiology, you can immediately begin to feel better both physically and emotionally.
Why? Better nerve flow. Better circulation of the blood. More oxygen within the lungs. Improved muscle strength and balance. A release of endorphins. And a clear mental focus on physiological solutions within instead of negativity from without.
Makes sense, yeah? Guess Mom was right when she told us to stand up straight!
