I found the lazy way to improve posture!

[mattbell]

(Background post -- I've tried lots of things to improve my posture but none of them have worked because as soon as I stop paying conscious attention to my posture, I slouch.  However, I recently worked my tailbone area to the point of soreness, and instantly had really good posture for the next day.)

I haven't been able to precisely pinpoint the exercise that made the muscles around my tailbone sore in such a way that my posture instantly improved, but I did find other muscles that do the same trick.  I've tried this a couple of times, and it works. 

Here's the exercise

Basically, it's an extension of the erector spinae muscles in the lower back.



To help push the muscle harder, I'm holding a 10lb medicine ball behind my head while I do it.  (My rock climbing gym has a small, err, regular boring gym inside it). 

This is awesome.  I've been annoyed by having poor posture my whole life, and the answer might be as simple as an exercise that takes a couple of minutes three times a week.  Before you run off to do this, note that numerous websites warn against letting your lower back curve during this exercise, hyperextending your back, or pushing too hard too soon.

If you don't have a gym membership, here's something you can do at home that works the same muscles.  I can't speak to whether this improves posture as well, but it feels similar. 

Comments

[nasu-dengaku.livejournal.com]

Pleased to meet you. It does look like we share a lot of interests, and that you're having a passionate yet rational adventure through life as well. You appear to be on the opposite side of the country from me, but if you find yourself out here (or I find myself out there) we should definitely meet up.

For now, I think you might enjoy looking at:
http://nasu-dengaku.livejournal.com/tag/art

and:
http://nasu-dengaku.livejournal.com/112405.html