Why “Good Posture” is Bad for Your Back

Dana Davis 4-24-2014

Learn how what is typically taught as “Good Posture” is actually harmful for your back. Most physical disciplines teach common postural guidelines that are the opposite of traditional posture in less industrialized countries. People in these cultures experience much less back pain and stay straight into their old age rather than getting hunched over. Decades of research by Noelle Perez-Christiaens from Paris, France has illumined the alignment and movement patterns of these healthy people. These postural guidelines can help you and your clients reduce back and joint pain, regain lost height, reduce muscle tension, and age gracefully.

Dana Davis, MA, CYT is a Senior Certified Balance Teacher by the Balance Center in Palo Alto, California, where she has studied and worked with Jean Couch (author of The Runner's Yoga Book) since 1996. She has practiced yoga since 1984 and is a graduate of the 3-year Advanced Studies Program at the Yoga Room in Berkeley (a 500-hour program). She has studied Restorative Yoga with Judith Lasater, and is a certified "Relax and Renew" Trainer. She became certified by Elise Miller to teach Yoga for Scoliosis in 2013. She has also completed advanced studies with Richard Miller, Ph.D., in Yoga Nidra/iRest.