Our skeleton and muscles are the foundation of our bodies. Without our bones
we would simply be lumps of meat and without our muscles we would be little
more than a pile of bones. And yet we ignore this fact, and more often than
not abuse our bodies to a greater or lesser degree.

The easiest way to think about it is to imagine each bone in your body being
represented by a flag pole. The guy ropes on either side of the pole
represent your muscles. When the guy ropes are perfectly balanced, the flag
pole stays upright - precisely where it is meant to be. However, if one of
those guy ropes becomes a little tight or shortened, while the other becomes
loose or lengthened, then the flagpole tends to lean towards the shortened
guy rope. The same thing can happen to each and every bone in your body.
This can affect your health tremendously.

If your bones are in the wrong position, this means that your joints are
also likely to be in the wrong position and this can cause pain, clicking,
crunching or clunking joints, and can in time cause more wear and tear. It
can also mean that your entire body is out of balance. If your torso is out
of balance, then your internal organs may have less room to function
efficiently. For example, lean your shoulders forward and look down towards
the floor. Now take a deep breath in and out, and notice how it feels. You
may feel your chest getting tighter as your lungs fill with air. Now, stand
tall, roll your shoulders down and back - take another deep breath in and
out. Can you feel the difference? Can you feel your lungs expanding, as your
breathing becomes a little easier?

To set "Perfect Posture", stand with your feet hip-width apart, toes in a
North-South direction. Draw an imaginary line between your 2nd and 3rd toe,
this line goes through the middle of your knee, through your hip bone and
through your shoulders. Roll your shoulders down and back, and imagine a
golden thread from the centre of your crown, pulling up towards the ceiling.
Imagine a fist or apple placed underneath your chin, to put your head into a
neutral, chin-tucked position. This helps to put your skeleton into a better
position. Then support it by switching on your core muscles. Imagine a cord
tied to the back of your belly-button. This cord pulls your belly-button (or
navel) towards your spine. It is important to keep breathing naturally as
you do this. Then squeeze your butt cheeks together and try to create butt
dimples. This should start to feel like an exercise in itself.

You may find that you start to feel your muscles working a little more, and
it may even feel slightly awkward as you start to correct your posture - but
with improved posture, everything you do will become easier. You should
start to see an improvement in your movement pattern, and your creaking
joints may start to ease away. You may start to feel more energised, because
your body will start to work more efficiently. You're entire world could be
about to change as you recapture a youthful zest for life again. You will be
amazed when you realise just how much your health and well-being can benefit
by simply changing and improving your posture.

Wendy Friston is a Personal Trainer & Vitality Consultant. Wendy's new book
series launches in March 2009 with 'How To Stop Back Pain Forever' and
'Better Eating For Life'. For more information about Wendy's books and
online Personal Training, go to www.wendyfriston.com

Wendy has also created an online health club: www.vitalpowerclub.com Vital
Power Club launches in April 2009 and provides fitness programmes,
nutritional information, family activities and much more ...