POSTURE

Are you succumbing to the ravages of stress and gravity?

THe average person loses 2 to 4 inches in height thanks to the ravages of stress and gravity. THe descent is gradual...barely noticeble at first. Psoas are a deep band of core muscles that when aligned properly improve posture and help you win the battle of the bulge. Attached to the inner wall of the spinal vertebrae psoas cannot be seen or touched and yet are the most important muscle group in your entire body. They push the ribcage upward and enable you to stand and sit straight - a distinctly human characteristic.
Psoas should work in unison with the front tummy muscles or abdomini erectus as shown in fig. A. The psoas push or contract upward to lift chest and rib cage while the front tummy sucks into the upper abdominal cavity. If psoas slacken or weaken as they do thru prolonged sitting and driving, the rib cage is pulled downward. The front tummy or abdomini erectus then distends forward and the head slumps. Lower back begins to sway or arch inward - putting pressure on lower lumbar. And the waistline gradually disappears as shown in fig. B.
Strong psoas push thoracic vertabrae upward to lift chest and ribcage. This upward push takes weight off the lower lumbar and helps to prevent back tension, disc shrinkage, osteoporosis and shoulder-neck tension.

To experience how you can re-align your spine and develop a more positive body attitude attend a posture workshopposture workshop. Learn more about Kareena's techniques thru her YogaChicago magazine article Yoga to Dance and another YogaChicago article Yoga For Seniors: Standing Tall Again To schedule a private consultation, contact me by e-mail at dance@yogakareena.com or by phone at 773-764-6488.

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