Being stuck at home for almost a year now has meant constant slouching for me. I try to keep an eye on my posture, but somehow, I always catch myself hunched over in my chair while I’m listening to lectures. It doesn’t help that boredom makes me gravitate towards my phone, where I slouch yet again scrolling through Instagram and Tik Tok. Then I found posture exercises. If you’re struggling with the same thing I did, incorporate these quick exercises into your work-out routine for a better posture! They don’t take long, I promise.
- Cat cows
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Cat cows help to stretch out and massage your spine. Furthermore, it helps with blood circulation as it releases tension in the torso, shoulders, and neck. Do some cat cows for at least one minute a day. You can even do this exercise standing up instead of all fours! What matters most is the stretch in your back.
- Side plank
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Side planks test your balance by helping to maintain the natural alignment of your spine and legs. A quick 30 seconds on each side will go a long way in the long run for your posture.
- Downward facing dog
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Like the cat cow, the downward facing dog helps to stretch out your spine while aligning your back muscles. Do this for at least a minute and watch your shoulder placement! You can even watch Tik Toks or YouTube videos while doing this exercise.
- Chest Opener
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The little exercise that we were all asked to do in high school fitness tests actually does a lot for your posture. Stand up straight and interlace your fingers behind your back, palms facing outward. You can use a towel if your hands don’t reach. Do this for about a minute a day, with little breaks in between so your arms don’t get too sore.
- Thoracic Rotation
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The exercise name sounds a little scary, but this is relatively simple. Lie down on your side with your knees tucked to a 90-degree angle. Rotate the uppermost arm towards the sky and lay it down on the other side of your body (you should still be lying on your side.) Your lower body should still be on its side while your upper body is on its back, sternum towards the ceiling. Stay in this position for a few seconds and repeat 5-10 times a day.
Keeping an eye out for your posture can be hard and it’s easy to forget about. These simple exercises will help your posture straighten itself out so that you don’t have to worry about it as much anymore!