Tips for improving your sitting posture

Many of us have terrible posture in sitting, that we know is not ideal for our long term body health, but changing how we sit can be challenging. Have you ever tried to "sit up straight" only to find yourself slumped or with a foot hooked on the chair 5 minutes later? Do you try to stay sitting well, but then feel pain or discomfort in your back, and have to shift or wiggle to get comfortable again?

Many of the issues we have when trying to sit well for extended periods stem from trying to use movement muscles for a postural task. The outer back muscles will help us out when running and jumping, but if we try to hold them in a contracted state for long periods of sitting they will get very fatigued, and develop chronic tension over time.

Mastering a good spinal alignment, with little tension in the global muscles, yet support from the deep postural muscles, can be transformative. Building your endurance and ability to sit well can help:

Reduce tension in the low back
Improve flexibility into a forward bend
Reduce low back pain
Improve mobility in the hips
Help relax tension between the shoulder blades
Reduce the frequency of Cervical Headaches

Want to learn how?! Check out the video below, which is an excerpt from the Level 2 - Pointe Intensive, in our Dance Educator Series of workshops. Sitting posture endurance can be used as a great test for true core stability and spinal awareness.

Start sitting in a full slump, with the hands resting on the thighs
If the low back is unable to flex, or there is any discomfort, try the Tucks & Tilts Sequence first

Practice slowly sitting up from the very lowest part of the spine
Keep the upper back relaxed into flexion
This may be quite shaky initially, this is ok, but just indicated reduced control in the smaller spinal stabilisers
This stage helps differentiate between the Thoracic and Lumbar extensors

Progress to slowly stacking the spine to arrive in neutral
There should still be a slight flexion in the thoracic area
Play with subtle adjustments in order to be able to relax the outer back muscles
This may take some time to master!
Make sure that the superficial hip flexors are also relaxed

Keep in mind that as humans we are not designed to sit for long periods! While it is good to train your endurance in sitting, it is even more important to reduce your time spent in sitting, and mix it up wherever possible! Options such as using a standing desk, or even lying down to work for periods of the day, can be helpful if you need to be studying or working a lot.

It is also totally fine to use the back of the chair to support you. Still focus on finding a restful posture that allows relaxation, and the ability to breath into the backs of your ribs.

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Want to learn more?

Check out our extensive range of core stability resources and dance educator workshops, that explore how to train core stability in an age appropriate, sustainable way, building layers of stability over time. Our "New Approach to Core Stability" is ideal for Dancers or Dance Educators of any age.