The first few weeks of a new program of exercises to improve posture can be very frustrating. We tend to overestimate what we are physically capable of doing. We expect our bodies to be fixed instantly.
But if you keep incorporate these virtues into your practice, you will reap many benefits. You can make the exercises more effective, reduce your risk of getting hurt, and feel more contented with your practice. In this article, I will detail four important virtues that will help you deepen your practice. These virtues are usually present in yoga and tai chi, but we’ll make use of them here, too.
1. Patience
There is usually a big improvement right at the beginning, when you first start a new exercise routine. Your muscles can quickly adapt to the increased load. But then you tend to plateau, and your gains will slow down. Your tendons and ligaments can’t adapt as quickly as your muscles can. After you experience a big change in your posture, it might not get better very quickly. However, as long as you continue the exercises and do them properly, your posture will get better. It is just slower. Keep at it and you will see.
2. Modesty
Sometimes, we expect too much of our body. We stretch too far or try to lift too much. We can easily injure ourselves. Often, it is not serious. But when dealing with the spine and tendons, we should be very careful. Our spine is necessary for nearly all functions of the body. Without it, we cannot stand, sit, lift, or roll over.
Remember: you are not invincible, nor are you made of rubber. Your tendons and ligaments can’t stretch more that 4% of their length without injury. You want to gently stretch your tendons and ligaments, only to stimulate them. When your muscles begin to spasm (or twitch), do not stretch further. Your tendons are sending a distress signal to your muscles to protect them from overstretching.
3. Awareness
Often, we let our minds wander when we exercise. How many TVs are there in the average gym? Instead of watching Survivor while you’re on the treadmill, you should be paying attention to your body. This is doubly important to posture exercises, since your posture is largely determined by how sensitive you are to how you hold yourself. Since we reflect who we are by what we pay attention to, we would do well to focus more on our movements, our feelings, and our senses while we are performing posture exercises.
4. Grace
A certain elegance helps any movement. Try to find the grace in whatever movement you are doing. Your exercises represent what you want to be. How you hold your posture symbolizes how you feel. Exercise with with your intention in mind. Let your purpose be present during each workout.
These four virtues, which play a large part in yoga, help make the connection between your exercises to improve posture and the rest of your life. A complete exercise system couldn’t function with these or similar principles. They are so vital to bringing the benefits of your practice to the rest of your life.