Posture imperfect

Improving posture is a common reason for attending Pilates classes and many of my clients worry their posture is far from perfect. But what do we perceive as ‘perfect posture’ and more importantly, does it even exist? Traditionally, Pilates teachers have been trained to observe static posture in standing, to check whether various anatomical landmarks are ‘optimally aligned’ from the crown of the head to the feet. Any deviation from this imaginary plumb line is deemed to be ‘less than ideal’. This is unrealistic - and unhelpful.

Why? Because it is merely a snapshot, a moment in time. Our posture changes constantly throughout the day, depending on what we’re doing and how we’re feeling (this is often overlooked). Think about it. We may be chilling on the couch after a hard day’s work, exercising or doing our daily chores around the house. We could be feeling super confident, walking tall and ready to face any challenges the day may bring. Or we could be feeling low or simply exhausted , our shoulders slumped and our gaze directed down.

Not to mention the judgement and body shaming that persists around posture. I’m sure you’re familiar with the old stereotypes! If you’re slouching, you’re lazy (you may simply be enjoying some down time) etc etc. While often said in jest, these comments can be hurtful and dent your confidence.

Finally, from a professional perspective, static posture tells me nothing about how a client moves. It has little validity. And as my aim is to facilitate fearless movement to help my clients move better through Pilates I don’t do static postural assessments - ever! I’ll observe my clients as they walk into the room, how they take their coat and shoes off, how they get down to and up from the floor and how freely (or stiffly) they move around the mat - this information is like gold dust!

So can Pilates improve your posture? Indeed it can, by freeing up tight muscles, improving spinal mobility and boosting body confidence.