News: September 2024

Posture For Your Brain

Most of you know I'm a stickler for good posture, as it preserves spinal health and dramatically decreases the risk of chronic pain, injuries, and even illnesses. But did you know that the benefits of good posture extend way beyond physical and physiological health?

We communicate with one another not only with words but through body language. Posture can convey much about our moods, personalities, emotions, and how we feel about the people we're with. But posture doesn't only affect how others see us, it also influences how we perceive ourselves.

Social psychologist Amy Cuddy saw that powerful, confident people tended to assume an open posture making themselves bigger (tall spine, open chest, legs and arms spread outward) while insecure people often closed up, making themselves small (spine rounded forward, arms crossed in front, shoulders and legs drawn together). She set out to discover if the reverse was true - could posture affect whether a person feels powerful or powerless, and if it does, can we change the way we feel about ourselves by changing our posture?

People who are assertive, optimistic, and feel powerful have higher testosterone and lower cortisol levels than those who are pessimistic, lack self-confidence, and feel powerless. These hormone levels influence how a person reacts to stressors, equipping the assertive people with greater stress tolerance and resilience. Cuddy and her team conducted an experiment to find out what would happen if a person assumed a certain posture prior to a stressful event. Study subjects were told to assume either a high-power posture such as a Wonder Woman pose, or a low-power, collapsed posture for two minutes before a stressful five-minute job interview.

After posing for two minutes, subjects with high-power postures had a 20% increase in testosterone and a 25% decrease in cortisol. Those assigned low-power postures had a 10% decrease in testosterone and a 15% increase in cortisol. After only two minutes, posture significantly affected the brain! It's probably not surprising that researchers totally blind to the experiment wanted to hire the high-power posed subjects, as they brought greater presence to the interview and allowed their strengths to shine.

Our minds change our bodies, AND our bodies change our minds. If only two minutes of a high-power pose can have such a profound affect on our brains, practicing open and confident postures regularly has the potential to change our lives in meaningful ways.

The next time you're in a stressful situation, duck into a private space and spend a few minutes in a powerful posture. Posing may feel silly and disingenuous at first. But Cuddy knows first hand that if you keep at it, you not only fake it 'till you make it, but eventually you become it.

Watch Amy Cuddy's inspiring Ted Talk

30 Minutes of Total Body Relaxation

Lie down, get comfy, and enjoy this 30-minute self-massage designed to release tension, alleviate anxiety, ease pain, and find complete peace and relaxation.

What's new with me ...

My husband's stunning new book is finally here! Order your copy of Unknown New York today and get it on Tuesday! Jesse's breathtaking illustrations reveal more than 100 of New York City's quirky, delightful, and unexpected secret places.

We had lots of family summer fun during Sienna's time off from school. She is super excited for tomorrow - her first day as a middle-schooler!