Fitness Expert Shares 3 Easy Tips To Perfect Posture

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- We all do it from time to time: slouch or hunch. But having good posture can improve your health and make you look slimmer too.

Fitness expert Annalicia Lynn, from TruthBeautyPeace.com shows us three easy fixes to perfect our posture.

Tip No. 1: Roll Your Shoulders Back & Down

Do this now: hunch forward. Do you notice how you get a little roll near your armpit? This is not super flattering when you're rocking out a tank top or showing off a cute sundress.

The quick fix: roll your shoulders back and down.

In other words, instead of letting your chest cave and your shoulders come forward (like we typically do when we're not mindful), see if you can pull your shoulders back so they're right under your ears. Think about your shoulder blades pulling together, towards your spine. Let the tops of your shoulders drop away from your ears, towards your hips.

Armpit rolls: almost gone.

Tip No. 2: Zip Up

Do this now: let your belly button pop out and allow your torso to sink down into your hips. Did you notice what happened to your stomach? Not necessarily what you want to show off in your swimsuit, right?

The quick fix: zip up.

Pretend like you're zipping up a tight pair of jeans. Pull your belly button in, towards your spine, and up, towards your ribcage. Do you notice how it feels as though your torso is lifting up, away from your hips now?

Muffin top: minimized.

Tip No. 3: Change Your Foot & Knee Position

Do this now. In a seated position, let your feet turn out and your knees fall away from your mid-line. Do your hips seem to suddenly expand? Probably not what you'd love to look like in the shorts you just purchased, huh?

The quick fix: change your foot & knee position.

Whether you're sitting or standing, make sure your feet are hip-width apart, with your toes pointing straight forward. Then, bring your knees right over your ankles, instead of letting them fall away from your mid-line. One way to bring your knees into this position is to simply make sure the big-toe sides of your feet are grounded.

Saddle bags: slimmer.

The best part ...

All of these adjustments will not only make you more stunning in your summer attire, but they'll also help you feel better in your body.

Why?

Because, whether you're sitting or standing, these three tips correct the dysfunctional postural issues most people don't even know they have. These adjustments are grounded in powerful yoga & Pilates alignment principles. Utilizing these tips, whenever you notice you're out of alignment, will, among other things, reduce pain in your back, hips, neck, and shoulders, reduce headaches, and strengthen your core.

A trick to remember is one you can do in your car: Adjust your review mirror to the posture you want, that way when you hop in the car you're forced to zip your core and sit tall.