Subject: Looks good but is it good for you?

Often, we do stand, sit a or exercise a certain way because we believe or we have been told it makes us look better or is good for us.

Today we will look more closely at a common cue used for posture, aesthetics, and exercise.

Pull your abs in or your navel to your spine.  Often this is a strategy to appear thinner or a cue in posture and exercise to help your spine.

This strategy can:

• put more stress through your spine 
• change how you breathe 
• lessen the positive effect breathing has on the rest of your body by inhibiting your breath

Test it out:

#1

Pull your abdominals in

Keep them in and inhale.

Are you able to take a deep breath? Where did you feel your breath?

In your chest, neck or shoulders?

#2

Now, relax your abdominals and inhale.

You likely felt you were able to inhale deeper.

#3

Next, place your hands on your spine at your low back level.

Pull your abdominal in again.  

Did you feel pressure come into your hand or your spine

come into your hand?

Pulling in our abdominals can put pressure on the spine, flatten it or even flex our lumbar spine (low back). This position is in the opposite direction that our lumbar spine or low back is naturally.

If you have found that you struggle with low back tightness or pain when sitting, standing, exercising, or after exercise and tend to pull your abdominals in, this may be a contributing factor to your discomfort.

So how do you change it?

The easy answer, stop pulling your abdominals in.

While this can be easier said than done, it may be a habit you have used for a long time and become ingrained.

Hopefully, being made aware of the less than ideal effects this strategy can have on your body will help you change it.

Unsure if and when you are holding your abdominals in?

Check-in during normal daily activities:

• brushing your teeth
• standing in the kitchen
• waiting at a stoplight
• during some mindful breathing

A client once reported, “The most freeing thing you ever told me was to stop pulling in my abs. My back pain almost instantly started to go away.”

Have more questions about pulling in your abdominals or other similar cues or postural habits?

Reach out. We are here to help.

As always…

Michael McAleese LMT IMS

630-968-7827

Your body. Your move.

P.S. If you found this interesting and know someone who could benefit…please feel free to share!