The Way We Stand Affects the Way We Feel

Our posture reflects our state of mind. Round shoulders and head forward often translate a lack of stamina and a need for safety, while an open posture promotes self-confidence. Let's look at the neurology behind our body structure, and try to understand how by changing the way we stand, we can change the way we feel.

As a kid, who hasn't once received a tap on the back by his mom followed by: "stand up straight!" Why does a person walking with his head up look better than another with a hunched back? If by intuition, people value a good posture, they don't necessarily understand the impact it has on how we feel.

Madame M. is a 46 years old mother of two. I initially met her because she was suffering from a tight neck that was causing her headaches and dizziness. On her first appointment, I immediately noticed her 'closed' posture. Her back was forming a C, and her head and shoulders were ahead of her body. Madame M. talked with a soft voice and she wouldn't easily make eye contact. I learned that she was the 6th and last child of a family from Northern France. She wasn't desired by her parents and she had, in her own words, a "painful childhood." The feeling of inadequacy that she developed as a child became a feeling of low self-esteem in her adult life. She closed up to the people around her, and her body posture perfectly reflected that state.

A Protective Posture is a natural response to stress

If there are as many postures as there are people, we can nonetheless observe two tendencies: A protective posture versus an open posture. People take a protective posture whenever they are exposed to a physical or emotional stressor such as an accident, an aggression, a frustration, or a rejection. The body literally closes up in order to protect the vital organs. The back muscles tighten up, the shoulders round in, and the head slides forward. Just imagine someone screaming at you "watch out for the ball!" You will immediately adopt this posture.

When the primitive brain is in controlr
On a deeper level, whenever we take this type of posture, we stimulate the lower part of the brain, which is responsible for primitive tasks such as feeling thirst, fear, or anger (1). That part of the brain, when activated over time, installs a feeling of vulnerability: The person functions on a day to day and basis. She doesn't feel safe enough to make long-term goals and she is usually very uncomfortable with change. It is important to note, than even if the outside sources of stress have disappeared, if the person holds that Protective Posture, he will reinforce the primitive brain and the state associated with it. A study (2) done in England reveals that someone's posture is an accurate indicator of his general state. The researchers suggested that primary care physicians should be attentive to people's posture to screen for states of unease or distress that could otherwise go undetected.

In the case of Madame M., she was in an obvious state of distress for several years. So we started care, and we worked on releasing the tightness in her neck and on improving the health of her spine. Slowly, over a period of several months, she learned, through exercises and spinal care, to open her posture. Her symptoms receded, and she gained a vitality she had not experienced in years. As her posture was improving she would also notice that she was experiencing more ease in every day's affairs. The real breakthrough happened when she decided to create her own business. She noted feeling stronger, more confident, and ready to make changes in her life. And that's what she did. It's now been 5 years since Madame M. has been running her growing business.

Our body structure affects how we perceive our environment and what we communicate to others. Learning to open up our posture will not only improve our health and appearance, it will also promotes self-confidence and openness towards life. Luckily, there are numerous ways to learn how to maintain a conscious and lively posture. Yoga and Pilates are among the tools that are available to us. Let's use them!

Ref.
(1) The Human Brain: An Introduction to Functional Anatomy. John Nolte, Mosby, 1993.
(2) A. Howe, "Detecting psychological distress: can general practitioners improve their own performance?" British journal of General Practice. 1996.