“shoulders back, stand up straight”

“Shoulders back, stand up straight” my father intoned throughout my childhood. Modelling came along in my teens (where I wished I were taller than 5ft, 8 inches), as did yoga and the discovery of my vertebral column being literally the backbone of yoga asanas/positions.

Standing tall and straight says more about a persons’ confidence and personal power then anything else; And what about that weird fact that we shrink as we get older. It’s interesting that our spines are at their longest upon waking.

The subject of how our nerves all connect to our spines and what this means to our nervous system is a massive book filling subject. Suffice to say nerves/nervous system, healthy spine=low stress levels. Cool, calm minds create wise thoughts and positive actions.

All that just by standing up straight!, no wonder dad went on about it.

Get into a habit of the very first thing you do when you hop out of bed, is to stand with your back against the wall and relax.

Stand with your feet hip width apart. Engage your abdomen by rolling your pelvis forward a little. Allow your shoulders to broaden and draw your chin in a touch. Relax your jaw and breath through your nose, take three conscious breaths.

Go forth and conquer!