Posture on Cardio Equipment
At one of the gyms I teach at I have to walk past all the cardio machines to get to the group fitness studio and I cringe every time someone is pushing themselves on a treadmill, elliptical or stair climber with horrible posture. Shoulder’s slumped forward, head hanging down, scrunched forward on a treadmill so the elbows can rest on the front! Noooo! Okay…being a yoga instructor I’m a bit anal about this but over time bad posture during exercise can put more stress on the body, and we want our exercise to alleviate stress.
The biggest concern for me is not how it looks, but that the body isn’t open for the organs to function fully. The heart and lungs should be able to do what they need to do at all times, but especially during exercise. In addition, bad posture during cardio exercise that involves the same movement over and over again can compound into knee, hip & back injuries.
Key good posture points to watch out for while exercising:
- Spine is long, no slouching or leaning forward.
- Shoulders are relaxed.
- Feet are parallel with toes pointing forward.
- Chest (heart & lungs) is open.
- Face is relaxed.
These tips will make your workouts more comfortable, strong and healthy for a long time. Enjoy!
