Correct Sitting Posture

What is the correct sitting posture?

As a group, we Americans, sit far too much, so correct sitting posture is essential if you want to get, or keep, your body working well.

How do you sit correctly? All you do is plop down in your chair, right? Well, there are a few simple rules to follow that make a huge difference. In fact, you can test them for yourself.

1. Sit With Your Hips Higher Than Your Knees

Put a foam wedge, a folded towel or a small pillow under your rear when you sit; adjust so your hips are higher than your knees.

Why does this work? How does this help?

Feel For Yourself

When your knees are higher than your hips, your body slumps forward and you can’t breathe as well. You know how you love to nestle into your super-comfy couch? That’s messing up your posture by forcing your spine into a big C-curve with no support for the natural curves. Car and airplane seats are horrible and require lumbar supports in addition to a wedge.

  • Find a seat that causes your rear to sink in (knees higher than hips)
  • Let your body relax and see how easily it slumps
  • Take the biggest breath you can
  • Now put something firm on the seat – a few towels – enough to get your hips higher than your knees

How’s that? Check your breathing. Most people will feel that sitting up straight is easier and that breathing is easier.

Tada! That’s the test. You get an A-plus.

Why is this?

Because this is a healthy way to sit! Sitting this way prevents bones going out of place and allows your body to relax and not work so hard – it helps support your body. It tilts the pelvis forward, restoring normal curves in your spine. If you sit the other way (the way most seats are designed to make you sit), it will reverse your natural spinal curves, throw your spine out of alignment and interfere with your posture correction!

2. Sit With Feet Flat on the Floor

This provides your body with the support it needs. It feels good and will cause much less strain on your body.

sitting-diagram

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Other Tips for Correct Sitting Posture

  • If the seat or chair is difficult to get up from, most likely it is messing up your body. Find a new seat!
  • Reading in bed will almost always pull bones forward and out of place in the direction your body cannot correct. Make sure your hips are higher than your knees and your head isn’t tilted forward.
  • Use a lumbar seat wedge in your car. Car seats are not made to help your body. We can provide a good quality one of these for you.
  • Recliners will pull bones out of position – they cause your body to slump and of course put your knees higher than your hips.