The School Newspaper of Winston Churchill High School.

The Observer

The School Newspaper of Winston Churchill High School.

The Observer

The School Newspaper of Winston Churchill High School.

The Observer

Good posture has emotional, physical benefits

“Shoulders back and down.” “Stand up straight.” “Stop slouching.” We constantly hear these phrases thrown at us from our parents, teachers and coaches over and over again. We know that standing up straight is healthy, yet what are the real benefits of having good posture?

According to the Kansas Chiropractic Foundation website, good posture is just as vital to good health as working out, eating right, getting a good night’s sleep and keeping away from harmful substances like alcohol, drugs and tobacco.  In addition to the positives that come with good posture, bad posture can also have very negative effects.

“If you have bad posture, then you can develop pains, such as back, shoulder [and] neck strains,” local pediatrician Dr. Deborah Engel said. 

These potential physical strains can distract CHS students from learning. Many students say that it is hard to focus on aceing a math test when they have neck and back pains, shoulder tenderness or headaches vying for their attention.  

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According to Physical Medicine Associates, an Illinois practice that specializes in physical therapy, it is better to fix bad posture at a young age before it turns into a lifelong habit. Bad posture also has social and intellectual consequences.

“Your posture signifies your alert level,” social studies teacher Matthew Schilling said. “[If you’re] sitting up, you are more likely to be focused.”

Good posture does not only make one feel better physically, but it also can increase confidence. According to an Ohio State University physiological study, posture affects how we think about ourselves.

“Good posture is important if you want to make a good impression on people, and it makes you look more confident,” senior Nick Sines said. “If someone has bad posture, they look unkempt and uninviting.”

AP Chemistry teacher Jodi Boppana agrees.

“Good posture reflects [that a student is] being attentive to [their] surroundings,” Boppana said.

Hillary Blackton, a local yoga teach er who has been teaching for over 27 years, stresses the importance of posture with her yoga students.

“When you’re interviewing someone for a job, [a person] with good posture comes across as confident, open and in control of things,” Blackton said.

With all the benefits of good posture, why is it that when anyone looks around any CHS class, he or she probably sees around 75 percent of students slouching?

According to the Kansas Chiropractic Foundation website, poor posture can result from poor sleep support, excessive weight, improper shoes, weak muscles, careless sitting, standing or sleeping habits, a poorly designed work space or a negative self image.

Good posture will restart emotions and initiate thinking. Posture can show how people are feeling, and reading  people’s body images can key one in on their actual thoughts.  So put those shoulders down and back, and stand up straight. You never know who might notice.

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Good posture has emotional, physical benefits