What comes to mind when you think of "good posture"? For some, perhaps it's a rigid ideal, one that was instilled in us by a parent or teacher when we were young-- stand up and sit tall with a straight spine, pull your shoulders back, lift your chin. But having good posture isn't really about standing stick straight like a statue or sitting up so tall that your muscles become tense. Yoga can teach you how to find the proper posture for your body, while respecting the natural alignment of your spine. Through practice, you can discover ways to maintain healthy structural alignment while moving through your life.

Think about how effective it would be to re-frame the whole intention of your yoga, viewing it as a tool to support posture that in turn supports you while performing ordinary movements-- sitting, standing, walking, bending, reaching, etc. And the best part is, there are no advanced asanas or concepts to master for these tools to be accessible. All it takes is some focused awareness and the willingness to practice.

Want to read more about why posture matters from a yoga teacher's perspective? Consider this article from Portland yoga instructor Julie Gudmestad-- Better Posture 101.