Base-Line Healing logo. Stick figure with arms outstretched above shoulder height, legs apart. Rainbow of colours up midline. Red at pelvic floor Base then a line of orange, yellow, green blue extending to the head. Showing the body aligned and balanced, the natural way to treat fibromyalgia. Use your body better slogan.

Base-Line Classifications Of Posture.

good posture

An Ideal Posture.

With an ideal posture, the body is in the best position for the activity being undertaken. Stresses are distributed in the safest/most efficient manner, and the body is as strong as it can be.

There are many disciplines that represent ideal postures, demonstrations of the body's capabilities when it is functioning at optimal. For example:

  • Pilates, tai chi, ballet etc. (other internal martial arts and forms of dancing), all demonstrate the grace and freedom possible with a full range of natural movement and a body that is dynamically balanced and aligned.
  • The asanas of yoga. The asanas are snapshots of a body with a full range of natural movement. Poses that can be perfected when the body is truly balanced and unrestricted. Movement should flow from one position to another.
showing a lot of poses of the body, some asanas of yoga.

A Functional Posture.

A 'functional posture' is what the brain/body uses day-to-day when an ideal posture cannot be achieved. (When the five main muscles of movement are not adequately used, and physical restrictions are present on the body).

the 5 main muscles of movement  physical restrictions

A functional posture at its most basic:

  • Keeps our eyes level (maintaining horizontal equilibrium in visual input).
  • Keeps us facing/moving forward.
  • Puts the body in a position to do the task at hand.
  • Adjusts body position to bear external stresses as they are applied.

Subconscious adjustments are made throughout the body - twists, kinks, tilts and compressions - as the brain sees fit, using the 'wrong muscles' in an attempt to compensate for misusage in the main muscles, but the body is imbalanced and imbalance leads to further imbalance.

Anticipatory Posture.

When faced with a task, the brain/body prepares by activating muscles into an anticipatory posture. "Bracing yourself".

An anticipatory posture should be the ideal posture for the activity (using the main muscles of movement to their full potential) but if that is not achievable, the body braces into a functional posture with the use of other muscles that attempt to mimic the action of the main muscles.

Becoming aware of anticipatory postures and the activation of the wrong muscles is an important step in correcting the dysfunction. Breathing with your Base-Line and focusing on the location and activity state of the main muscles of movement will facilitate the correction of bad postural habits that have developed.

breathing with your Base-Line

It takes time and effort to improve your posture, things only you can provide. Think of how you are put together and what level of body awareness you have.

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