Lose That Slouch!

I love watching the Red Carpet for the Oscars. As a Pilates instructor I'm not just checking out the fashion, but I'm also looking at the bodies. How important are sculpted arms? Very! How many people are wearing fitted dresses versus forgiving A-line skirts? Yet there is one secret ingredient to making a statement for any special occasion that often gets left on the cutting room floor: Posture.

I was dismayed at Miley Cyrus' rounded shoulders. Her Mom accompanied her to the Oscars and I kept thinking she should be poking her to stand up straight. A lot of the younger stars had very poor posture, especially when compared with the grace of Penelope Cruz or the presence of Kate Winslet.

Good posture gives you presence. It lets you command a room. It lends you instant respect. Square shoulders and a lifted chin will help you with everything from negotiating a raise to attracting that guy's attention across the room at a big party. Your clothes look better and yes, you really do look thinner. Here's how to add some posture moves into your overall fitness plan.

Do Pilates. Pilates always relates back to the spine. Every exercise you do the instructor watches for proper posture. A lot of my clients actually "grow," adding a half-inch or so of height over the period of a year as their vertebrae loosen up and posture improves. Add a mat class or two into your weekly mix and you'll see results right away.

Do Yoga. Yoga focuses on balance. You have to have good posture to do those moves! Also downward dog helps to stretch out the back and shoulders which can frequently cause tightness and rounding of the shoulders. Even one class a week can offer results.

Work Your Back. As I walk through the health club where my Pilates studio is located, I see a lot of people concentrating on their chest, arms, abs and legs, but not as much on their backs. If you only train your chest and neglect your back you're actually training yourself into bad posture. Try adding three or four exercises (mixing it up to focus on your lats, deltoids and lower back) to your routine and you'll improve immediately.

Extend Yourself. Grab a foam roller at your gym, lay on your stomach with your legs slightly turned out and apart. Place your wrists on the roller, palms face the floor, hover your face away from the floor. On the inhale, slide your shoulder blades down towards your bum and arch away from the floor. Open up your chest and shoulders and you should feel a great stretch through your whole spine. Exhale to return to the start position and do 5 or 6 reps. (Check with a doctor or physical therapist if you have a history of back issues). Add this stretch as the last thing you do anytime you workout. You will loosen up significantly, improve strength in the back and see changes after the first week. It only takes a minute!

Your body wants to have good posture, so it only takes a little bit of work to get a fast response. Try the exercises above and see which ones works best for you. Then get ready to enjoy your next frock knowing you look Oscar-worthy.

To really enjoy your workout, take along a friend!