"I have poor posture...What should I do???"

"Do you think I have bad posture?"  I've gotten this question from a number of people in the last few weeks.  This is always a tough question for me to answer because there is not a clear definition for "Good Posture."

This is good posture!  If you are not stuck like this for a long time!

For those that read what I post, you'll know that I like definitions (because it helps to clear any confusion!)  I remember my biomechanics professor asking our class to comment on his posture as he moved through a number of positions on stage while doing his lecture (from slumping, to slouching to lying to twisting, and of course most were exaggerated).  None of which the class thought was "good posture" (in fact, most of us thought that all were bad posture).  His answer was that ALL those positions were fine postures (he did not qualify them as good posture, but he emphasized that none were bad).  His reason was that he spent very little time in any of those whacky positions, thus his spine and associated muscles did not have to deal with strain and stresses for long periods of time. 

Therefore, my definition for good posture is any position that you are not in for a long period of time.   So for those who ask me, "Do I have bad posture?"  my answer is; "Move around a bit...well that looks good to me!"