By Setareh Kiumarsi
Right now, straighten your spine, roll your shoulders back, and open up your heart chakra…
But why…?
Are you always slouching? Are your shoulders rounded?
Did you know the harm from slouching goes far beyond your appearance?
Did you know that when you slouch, you actually slow down your digestion process?
Digestion is a downward movement. Food travels from the mouth to the esophagus, from the esophagus to the stomach, and from the stomach to the intestines. But when you slouch, instead of food flowing down smoothly, it’s pushed upward. This causes the valve between the esophagus and stomach to open the wrong way; leading to acid reflux and a burning sensation in your chest.
What else does slouching do?
When you slouch, you physically block the flow of energy through your Anahata chakra—the heart center. It’s like closing the windows of your home that open to a bright, lush garden.
And there’s more…
When you slouch, you also put your lungs under physical stress; compressing them, reducing their volume, and limiting the flow of prana (life energy) and oxygen into your body.
Start today. Every time you catch yourself slouching, stop immediately. Straighten your spine, roll your shoulders back, and open your heart chakra. You might do this 50 times a day at first—so what? Start over every single time. The next day it might be 49 times. And with each day, your body’s tendency to slouch will decrease while your desire to sit up straight will grow.
Make a deal with yourself and add one small, effective, and Ayurvedic habit to your life each week. How does that sound?
Be full of health.
Please make sure to credit the author, Setareh Kiumarsi, when sharing or republishing this article, which was written with love and hope for everyone’s well-being.
