Amy Cuddy has a great TED talk on the power of body language. You can find it on YouTube if you’re curious.

One cool thing she reveals is that two minutes of “power posing” (e.g. standing tall with hands on hips, a la Superman) increases your testosterone.

This is important. Tell you why in a minute.

 

For most of us our daily movement patterns are flexion-dominant.  This means hands closed, head forward and down, arms and legs in front of the body.  Think of the fetal position as an extreme version.

We sit in a car on our way to a job…where we sit at a desk all day…before sitting in a car again, only to wind up, you guessed it…sitting on the couch.  And for much of this round-trip we’re bent forward at the waist, hands clutching our smart phones.

 

Extension, on the other hand, is a more open posture.  The arms are away from the body, the head is up, and you stand tall.  Picture the runner who launches into a victory pose as she crosses the finish line.  Going back to Amy Cuddy’s point, a power pose is basically holding extension long enough for your “positive” hormones to kick in.

 

The real problem with doing flexion – or sitting – most of the day is it bars you to some extent from the helpful emotions you’d otherwise experience.  When sitting, it’s harder for your body to tap into the testosterone and serotonin fueled highs of confidence and well-being.

 

Bottom line, we simply weren’t designed to sit as much as we do! There’s a world of wellness and vitality beyond where you are now.

And it’s your PHYSIOLOGY that gives you access to it.

 

If you work at a desk, I recommend you break up your day with a walk or a workout – and frequent stretches.  That’ll help.  But those changes are temporary.

The gentle adjustments I do, on the other hand, will help your nervous system learn new patterns so they stick.  In fact, many of my patients report feeling “straighter” or standing taller after an adjustment.  Some have even gained height over time by improving their posture.

 

Our ancestors hunted, fought naked, and birthed babies without painkillers (perhaps the most amazing of the three)…that’s some hardcore DNA.

You likely have within you an energy, strength, and vitality you’ve yet to discover.  Deep-seated, physiological changes are the key to unlocking your potential.

Let me help you find it!