5 Things You Didn't Know About Posture

1. Slouching affects the confidence in your thoughts & ability to do your job.
2. Obesity causes bad posture by forcing the spine out of alignment as it tries to evenly distribute weight.
3. Bad posture can raise blood pressure, courtesy of a direct neural link between neck and muscles and the part of the brain stem responsible for regulating blood pressure.
4. The best position in which to sit at a desk is leaning back about 135 degrees, in order to minimise lower back pain.
5. Scoliosis (curvature of the spine) cannot be caused by bad posture. 

(Source: Lorna Jane)

Benefits of the PLANK Exercise

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Plank exercises are a popular element of isometric training, which involves contracting your muscles against stationary resistance. Isometric exercises are common for injury rehabilitation or reconditioning. Isometric exercises, such as planks, can help you get past strength-training plateaus and improve energy transference between your upper body and lower body. Plank exercises, in particular, benefit multiple elements of physical fitness and your general well-being.

Plank exercises have aesthetic benefits that can enhance your appearance by improving posture. Planks activate core muscles, including the transverse abdominis and iliopsoas, which stabilise your spine and hips. Plank exercises help prevent or reverse postural deficiencies, including lordosis and posterior pelvic tilt. Lordosis, or swayback, results from abdominal weaknesses that overextend your back; it tends to make your buttocks stick out. Posterior pelvic tilt, or flat back, results from hip flexor weaknesses and flattens the normal curvature of your spine.

Next time you're at DHP, give this exercise a go!

Read more: http://www.livestrong.com/article/500440-what-does-the-plank-exercise-benefit/#ixzz1suczRdXE