good posture rocks! it is everything!

here's my take on posture in 2 minutes or less…

we have 4 natural curves in our spine...neck, upper back, lower back, tailbone area...these curves function as a springboard for our body helping it to absorb the stresses of daily life

once we begin to deviate from the natural curves (such as by having bad posture) we begin to have an imbalance in the way stresses are placed on the body and we shift stress to areas that aren't meant to handle it..this creates problems throughout the skeleton from the toes all the way up to the top of the neck

we also allow ouselves to surrender to gravity...you've heard people say that they are shrinking as they get older? well, actually it's mostly the result of the constant downward pressure of gravity on our bodies...we're getting squished smaller...coupled with bad posture, we do 'shrink as we get older...so, stand tall and push back against gravity!!! (fyi, standing tall with good posture is the easiest way to lose 10lbs instantly!)

i have degenerative disk disease, but it rarely causes me problems as long as i'm paying attention to my posture and taking good care of my spine...ditto for the severe arthritis in my neck...i can tell when i'm getting 'sloppy' because i'll get a 'neck headache'...i was on anti-inflamatories for it but i've been off many years now, thanks to yoga

that said...I AM NOT A MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL; I AM MERELY RELAYING MY OWN EXPERIENCES...SHOULD YOU CHOOSE TO PURSUE YOGA, DO SO WITH THE PERMISSION OF YOUR DOCTOR AND UNDER THE GUIDANCE OF A WELL TRAINED INSTRUCTOR

This is my first post to the site. I'm glad to see that there are others in the same boat (but not if it causes you problems!).

I am hypermobile in most areas (knees don't hyperextend…I'm a 7)...freakishly so in my shoulders, hips and neck (nearly a 180 degree drop back).

I've already had minor surgery on both wrists and my left shoulder is in bad shape (I'll be avoinding surgery for that...my doctor said that with my laxity the ligament would probably be stretched back out within a year). I'm looking at drastically limiting my movement.

I am a yoga teacher. I know that there are some who recommend against yoga for this problem, but I think that it's what has kept me from being worse. LOTS of work strengthening the muscles around my 'problem' joints and LOTS of awareness of what my limitations are. I very rarely lift my arms above parallel. Do the best you can with what you've got! (FYI, I noticed posts about posture...I'm absolutely RABID about posture and its effects on the entire body)

I do want to ask...does anyone else here crack their collarbones? I do all day...and it seems to ick people out.