the teenage player soon found that adjusting her posture to mimic aplomb not only manipulated her opponent’s morale, but her own mood as well

They go on to describe that good posture doesn’t only affect sporting prowess, but can also give you general feelings of well-being and happiness: Psychology Today: Mind Your Body: Taking a Stand.

People don’t understand about maintaining their trunk and spine stability while lifting weights. They’re just throwing the weights up rather than lifting the weights and I’m thinking, ‘Oh my … I can hear their back screaming.

Los Angeles Times writer Jeannine Stein interviews five South Californian trainers about the worst mistake they’ve seen people make in the weight room.

Daily Herald - Stay on form while working out.

Urban archiving is a new ‘posture sport’ being practiced by a group of Danish Graphic Design students. It takes its name from the characteristic body posture they achieve during its execution.

Their facebook group is going strong, with over 700 members, for a sport they categorise alongside ballet and parkour.

The goal of the discipline is to place one self in a fixed straight posture as a part of the urban environment, thus achieving a visual expression, which sparks a reaction from the onlooker.

It seems crazy, but we love it, and with practitioners starting to pop up across the globe, we predict a bright future for the ‘posture sport’.

They have a pdf book to download: urban archiving (caution: very large file)

The correction of posture should begin at the feet. Stand with the feet 4-6 inches apart, toes pointing forward. The weight should be evenly distributed between the balls of the feet and the heels. Practise the following:

• Raise the toes off ground, feel weight evenly between balls and heels, then lower toes.
• Sway body forward, feel more weight on balls of the feet.
• Sway body backward, feel more weight on heels.
• Position body so that the weight is evenly distributed between balls and heels.
• Lift the medial arch (inside middle foot) slightly but do not curl the toes.

Knees

Press knees backwards (hard) and then ease the knees by bending slightly, find mid point and pull knee caps upwards.

If the knees are hyper extended, ease them slightly and pull knee caps upwards as above.

If the knees are bowed or knock kneed, tighten the kneecaps, rotate the thighs outwards and tighten the buttocks to bring the knee caps to point forward. (Check feet again)

Pelvis

Tilt the pelvis forward and then backwards, pull the abdomen in again, tucking the tail under and hold this balance. (Pull the abdomen in and breathe out as the pelvis is pulled forward, then hold this position while breathing normally)

Thorax

Pull the thorax (chest) upwards from the waist as you breathe in, drawing the shoulders backwards and downwards (Hold while breathing normally. Do not thrust the chest forwards)

Neck and Head

Elongate the neck, pull the chin backwards. Feel as though someone is pulling the hair upwards at the crown.

Check feet, knees, pelvis and thorax again, hold this position then relax.

Practise this correction several times a day and during various activities; correct posture during inhalation (breathing in), and hold balance during exhalation (breathing out). A stiff military posture is not desirable – relax a little. Walk around holding the new posture, and it will eventually become habitual.

Developers hope this breakthrough in the biometrics field will give security forces the edge over other methods like finger printing and iris recognition or retinal scanning as the surveillance can take place covertly and at a distance. This should give opportunity for personnel to raise the alarm earlier, perhaps even before the suspect reaches the building.

In the state of Buffalo, computer and behavioural scientists have joined forces to work on a computer video system that uses a range of biometric measures to develop a database of behaviours manifested in terrorists under interrogation. they say will take some of the guess work out of so called random screening of passengers at airports.

Perhaps the best known product is the MBT (standing for Masai Barefoot Technology.) The sole of the shoe is curved producing a rocking motion with each step. MBT’s are said to effect a gait which mimics that of the posturally perfect Masai Warrior Tribesman. The lower heel position and the instability caused by the shoe, works leg muscles harder and gives rise to shorter strides.

There’s no shortage of anecdotal evidence to suggest MBT’s can benefit some sufferers of low back and foot pain and an empirical study has concluded that MBT’s reduce stress on ankles, knees and hips. However more recent research has failed to demonstrate that wearers of MBT’s are at any advantage when it comes to maintaining a healthy posture.

Some experts advise caution, saying the shoes are likely to do more harm than good to those with pre-existing conditions. Whilst no one doubts that MBT’s provide a workout (and wearers report they can feel the burn after walking in them) they don’t strengthen the trunk muscles and therefore don’t build core stability. The artificial gait and increased muscle activity caused by the shoe can lead to muscle pain, stiffness and tension which increases the strain on already vulnerable joints and tissues.

Despite a weak evidence base and a bulky appearance, suggestive of an anti gravity boot, MBT’s have gained much popularity. Doubtless much of this success should be attributed to their celebrity champions. Public figures like Cherie Blair and a host of Hollywood stars (Gwyneth Paltrow and Sadie Frost among them) have been quick to don shoes claiming to improve our posture. Birkenstocks, Earth Shoes and the old favourite Dr Scholl’s have all been popularised by celebrity A listers.

The newest addition to the fit foot fashion parade is the Fitflop. Modelled on the traditional Flipflop it provides a high degree of shock absorption whilst a mini wobbleboard in the sole is said to increase energy consumption as you walk. But here again physiotherapists have expressed concerns that this shoe is not good for everyone and may cause pain and tendonitis in some wearers.

Love them or loath them, most posture experts would agree that having this footware popularised can only be a step in the right direction. Surely they’re preferable to cramming our toes into winkle -pickers or teetering on stilettos. However I have to speak up for poor Gwynie, criticized for setting a bad example in 3 inch heels on the red carpet. She just wouldn’t have cut it in that little black dress and her MBT’s.

The national Charity BackCare offers advice on shoe shopping for a healthy posture.

Commenting on the outcome of this years survey Aashish Contractor, M.D. of the Asian Heart Institute said “This seems to be part of a larger trend worldwide, showing a gradual convergence between health, fitness and medicine.”

Unlike memory foam mattresses, moomü’s high specification foam core and zoned design helps to prevent overheating and ensure a sounder night’s sleep. The new moomü also features a temperature regulating Outlast® cover.

But, there are signs of retaliation. The English National Ballet has teamed up with sponsors Sky T.V. to tackle C.O.P.S. In a series of private tutorials they have sought to perfect the posture of top presenters including Anna Botting and Eamonn Holmes in an attempt to give them a more authoritative presence. Fortunately, we can all benefit by following the pointers in their Plié-Perfect Office Posture Guide.