Wellness
Walk This Way
You can do it, put your back into it.
Standing in line. Driving. Sitting at your desk.
You do these things every day. And you're doing them wrong.
We turned to Esther Gokhale, author of 8 Steps to a Pain-Free Back, for some posture pointers that pinpoint pain--sans pills.
In the car...Before you fire up the engine, gently pull the hair on the back of your head up and back. Stretch neck and lean head on headrest, about half an inch higher than normal. This loosens neck muscles and decompresses your cervical discs and nerves, says Gokhale. Try this stretch at stoplights, too.
While waiting in line...Rock hips until you feel your weight shift to your heels. Counterbalance by hinging your upper body forward from your hips. "By standing this way, you are preventing a host of foot problems including bunions and plantar fasciitis," says Gokhale. When the line creeps forward, squeeze your butt muscles as you step to build better balance and a toned booty.
At your desk...For a big back stretch, push down on your armrests (or your desk) and hold. Relax your torso muscles and draw your lower body downward.
Want more feel-better body tips? Check out the Gokhale Method here.
We've got your back.

