Improve your Posture with These 5 Pietra Fitness Workouts

Stand up straight! Don’t slouch!

Have you ever had a parent or teacher correct your posture? When it comes to posture, bad habits are easy to form.

Everyday occurrences or actions like leaning over a small screen, slouching in a chair, carrying a heavy bag, even poor quality shoes or pregnancy can cause problems with your posture.

However, while common, poor posture can affect your appearance and confidence, as well as your overall health.

Keep reading to find out more about the benefits of good posture and exercises you can use to improve your posture.

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What does good posture actually look like?

Good posture allows you to hold your body with the least amount of strain and stress on supportive structures like your muscles and ligaments. Aligning your body properly when you sit or stand protects you from avoidable pain and injury.

But what exactly does good posture look like?

When standing, your chin should be parallel to the floor, your shoulders, hips, and knees should be even, your spine should be neutral rather than arched, and your weight should be evenly distributed on both feet.

When sitting, your chin should (again) be parallel to the floor, your shoulders, hips, knees should be even, and your knees and feet should point straight ahead.

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Benefits of good posture

Good posture has a large impact on your body in a variety of ways:

• Improves muscle and joint function
• Improves spine health
• Improves balance
• Reduces risk of injury
• Reduces neck, hip, and back pain
• Boosts mood
• Impacts digestion¹

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5 workouts that will improve your posture

Thankfully, if you struggle with posture problems, you can work to improve them through exercise. Here are five workouts from Pietra Fitness that specifically focus on developing good posture.

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1. Lent: Hip Strengthener

Focus: Hip Flexor Strengthener

Level: Gentle

Do you have poor posture, tightness or soreness in your lower back or hips, or pain in your neck or glutes? Tight hip flexors may be the source of your discomfort—and Lent: Hip Strengthener can provide relief. This 25-minute class offers exercises that stretch and strengthen not only your hip flexors but also your back, glutes, and core are essential for loosening your muscles, increasing your range of motion, improving your posture, and preventing injuries.

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2. Tone and Twist

Focus: Posture

Level: Intermediate

Twists are great for strengthening the muscles up and down your spine, improving posture, and increasing flexibility so you can perform everyday movements with ease. Tone & Twist leads you through several series of safe and effective twists that will work and stretch your entire core while engaging other muscles in your body for stability.

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3. Live From Home: Posture Support

Focus: Posture

Level: Intermediate

Would you like to be one of those people who stand in perfect alignment, maintaining the spine’s natural curves? Practicing Live from Home: Posture Support can be a great aid to strengthening your core and glutes that will aid in correcting a slouching posture.

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4. Live for Advent: Fix Your Posture

Focus: Posture

Level: Intermediate

Would you like to stand taller, move better, and have greater flexibility and range of motion? If the answer is yes, then Live for Advent: Fix your Posture is for you! Our trained instructor will walk you through exercises that will help your body move in a way that is smarter and more efficient.

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5. Live! from Home: Polish Your Postures

Focus: Posture

Level: Advanced

Are you looking for an opportunity to perfect your standing postures while building greater strength? This 45 minute class is for you! In this class, our trained instructor offers numerous cues as you spend time in each posture, giving you the opportunity to polish your postures as you gain strength. You will practice poses that will strengthen the legs, knees, ankles, arms, core, and glutes and stretch the groins, chest, and lungs, as well as poses that will challenge your balance and strengthen your legs, ankles, and back muscles.

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Are you ready to work on your posture? Studio Members can search for the titles of these classes and get started today!