I’ve always said, “your best posture is your next posture”. Doctors, trainers, and mothers everywhere have probably been preaching some version of this sentiment to you for as long as you can remember. But have you ever stopped to really consider the long term effects of all the slouching you do?

Ask yourself this: You’re already working hard to eat healthier and exercise more. So why would you phone in something as important as protecting your spinal health?

Despite many Americans’ heightened interest in health and wellness, one area where most of us are still failing ourselves is our posture. According to the American Chiropractic Association, up to 80% of Americans will grapple with back pain in the course of their lifetime. Collectively, they’ll spend nearly $50 billion every year trying to cope with it. And the fun doesn’t stop there. Bad posture can hinder your ability to develop your muscles. It can cause chronic headaches, difficulty breathing, or even hinder your mental health.

For women, the pressure slouching applies to your organs can, in rare cases, cause a painful and life-altering pelvic prolapse. Even those of us who think we have good posture can suffer from mild “tech neck”, simply from staring down at our phones and computers all day. And you don’t want something as simple as your Instagram addiction negatively impacting your long-term health and happiness.

Think about the life you want to live in your 50s, 60s and beyond — and don’t shortchange that reality. Do your future self the favor of being more mindful about your posture today. As someone who understands just how critical good posture is to our overall health, I always make sure to incorporate corrective exercises into the work I do with my clients. Whether it be overhead pulldowns or bench rows or any number of simple stretches, they’re all designed to slowly improve your alignment in a way you’ll definitely notice.

Reach out for more information and let’s get you (or at least your spine) back on the straight and narrow. For more articles, please visit http://www.bodybyrobbie.com/blog