Is it possible to correct a lifelong slouch?

[Mufasa]

I'm 6'2" with a slouch. I'm not an ugly dude by any means but the slouch def hampers my shot with the ladies.

In all seriousness, do you guys have any tips to fix it?

 

[Talent]

Stop sleeping with a pillow.

 

[S1Z]

im sure deadlifts and rows and other weight lifting would be beneficial to your posture. it was for me

 

[SherdogGoat]

Are you like this?

 

[Nameless Ghoul]

I thought you were talking about someone being lazy....

 

[ramsiN]

im a slouch too man. i spent my entire child hood completely slumped over and shit, looked like fuqn quasi moto. im more in control of my posture now tho, ive come to realize man and you'll probably laugh at me but exercise and stretching the back work man. ever since i started doing sit ups and stretching my back out 2 to 3 times a day i noticed i can keep a straight posture for much longer before i feel that nagging pressure in my back again.

 

[prod2821]

as other said some lifting, but ultimately just walking tall chest out everyday, reminding and practicing yourself

it's a struggle and battle but you just have to keep at it

 

[Elysianwing]

Buy a really obnoxious diamond necklace like the rappers wear.

It'll turn your slouch into something that makes panties drop like lead weights.

 

[GearSolidMetal]

I thought you were talking about someone being lazy....

Same here.

Start standing at attention (military style) and learn breathing exercises, doing both is a form of meditation. If you do this daily for any amount of time you feel comfortable, your slouching habit will dissipate in time.

 

[fingercuffs]

You should have a breast reduction, it sorted my mate's hunch back immediately.

 

[JAEGERX]

probably correcting posture and going into the squat rack? i dont know, try it

 

[WatchMeDoMe**]

You probably have weak abs. Strengthen them.

 

[Johnny Rosa]

I had one too, but for me pull-ups, core training etc etc made my posture so much better. I don't lnow which exercise was the slouch-fixer, but I think pull-ups for sure had to have helped.

 

[Leverage]

I don't know tbph

But usually I'll lay on my stomach, legs straight, head down and then stretch my arms out over my head in the shape of the letter "Y" and then lift my arms/legs off the floor like superman. Then I'll do the same with my arms in letters "T, W and L" to get those postural back muscles to start strengthening.

Also, just try and keep basic good posture. Chin up, chest out, shoulders back and back straight.

Also strength training with good technique should help. So will yoga/stretching your back out (cat stretches). I like to hold onto a pullup bar and just dangle for a bit.

I'd go see some sort of professional if you can though, to be safe.

 

[Ayin]

I'm 6'2" with a slouch. I'm not an ugly dude by any means but the slouch def hampers my shot with the ladies.

In all seriousness, do you guys have any tips to fix it?

Having had a 6'4" friend who had slouched his whole life (as many kids who grow tall fast do) and a girlfriend (now wife) who had a pretty extreme pelvic tilt, these things CAN be corrected.

The first step is to stand up straight. Seriously. Nothing else you do will work if you don't stand up straight, ALL THE TIME. Constantly re-adjust your posture, look at yourself in the mirror and PRACTICE standing up straight. Get a feel for what it is like when you are standing up straight, and pay attention to make sure you are doing that. If it's possible, get a partner/friend to remind you to do so (I actually got my girlfriend's work mates to tell her she wasn't when her posture slipped).

Standing up straight is going to be both difficult and uncomfortable. It's going to be uncomfortable because it's no longer your 'natural' way of standing, and hard because it's going to take constant (and I mean CONSTANT, rest of your life every waking moment) effort.

For the comfort part, do it more. The more you stand up straight, the better off you are and the easier it gets. Don't 'slump' in exhaustion or to relax. What will help you here is stretching to correct your imbalances. The muscles in the direction you are slouching forward are going to be tight and pulling your posture back to your current 'normal', so stretching them, lengthening them, relaxing them, ect, will help. Spend some time laying flat on your back as well, and try pushing your shoulders back to the ground (this is what you should be doing instead of slouching into a chair to relax). Also, sleep with a much flatter pillow.

For the hard part, lift. It's going to take constant muscular effort to pull yourself upright and maintain that, so start lifting and focus on an upright posture and strengthening your back (lower and upper). People often recommend lifting to fix posture issues, and this is the reason for it. Again though, this will just give you the strength and stamina to stand up straight, YOU need to actually STAND UP STRAIGHT all the time to make it work.


For another big tip, if you sit down a lot, figure out a way to do it right. Standing up straight for 30minutes a day isn't going to matter if you're slouched over a keyboard for 6 hours. Move the Keyboard to the edge of your desk. Get your elbows off the desk so they are at your sides, pull your shoulders back. Since you're tall, try elevating your monitor (ie avoid laptops). If you get sore from doing this, your back hurts, ect, it's because you are fighting against your current 'bad' posture. It will become easier as you get stronger (from lifting), your muscle imbalances start to go away (from stretching), and it becomes habit.

Posture is something that can be fixed, but like everything else, it takes real work.

 

[WatchMeDoMe**]

Don't listen to anybody but me. I know from firsthand experience. Its a lack of strength in your core. Period.

 

[Lucifer Alpha]

Unless there's something physically wrong with you, just pull your shoulders back and stick your chest out.

 

[WatchMeDoMe**]

Unless there's something physically wrong with you, just pull your shoulders back and stick your chest out.

No. He probably has an imbalance in his muscles. If he does this his pelvis will tilt forward and give him lower back problems. If he has the particular issue I had.

 

[HUNTERMANIA]

The book 'Somatics' by Thomas Hanna. I guarantee it'll fix it.

 

[MMA made EASY]

look up "The Alexander Technique"