Posture Question

Body: 

Thanks for everyone's comments on painful sex etc. They've been really helpful. I've cancelled my surgery and just got the First Aid video.
What I can't figure out is how much lumbar curve is correct. When standing, if I lift my ribs, should my stomach stick out? On the video Christine says imagine your navel over your pelvic bone. But that seems to tilt my pelvis forward and get rid of the curve in my back.
And when sitting, which way's the tilt?
I've always been geometrically challenged, and this seems so simple but I just don't get it. (And I did read other answers to this on the website. Guess I'm really thick.)

okay- so you have the video and you can see how Christine is standing right? here's what to do.... think of the posture as a 2 step challenge: you have the neck and shoulders and then the booty and tummy.
so the neck and shoulders- when you lengthen your neck you automatically lower the shoulders-
then stick out your booty and relax your tummy all the way out- then gently pull it in (a proud holding I believe it's called)
so your boobs stick out and your booty sticks out and it is basically the same for sitting-
did you try to put something on your head?
B

How much, though, does my butt stick out? When I stand with something on my head it feels like my navel pulls inward, not out. What am I doing wrong?
thanks.

took me a looong time to get a hang of the posture. seemed that each time I read another description once small piece of the puzzle fell into place. don't get frustrated.....you have lots of time.

how much your bottom sticks out is not important, it will vary from woman to woman.

try this...stand up feet comfortably apart, knees facing forward, hands on your hips. your fingers will be wrapped around toward the front of your body and most likely resting on bone. will feel like a hard bump on each side. that's the top/front of your pelvis.
your thumbs will be wrapped around toward your back and also resting on pelvis, but the back portion.
now keeping your hands on your pelvis, arch your low back slowly so you can see how your fingers (front of pelvis) drop lower than your thumbs (back of pelvis).
what this does is it moves the pubic arch underneath your pelvic organs to support them, and changes the way forces (ie breathing) move through your body so instead of pushing your pelvic contents out through the vagina, the pelvic organs are held against your abdominal wall above the pubic arch (bottom part of pelvis).

that's only 1/2 of it though

now keep that 'pelvic tilt' (called an anterior pelvic tilt) and put your hands, palms out, behind your backside and gently push your shoulders down. keep your chin ever so slightly tucked, this should elongate your neck and spine, you should feel your breasts lift and stick out more, and your belly will do the same. In Christine's book (first edition anyway) this is described in 'womb walking' and personlly I found it tremendously helpful.

::::::deep breath:::::

let your arms drop and *that* is the posture as I understand it (oh, and remember to keep your knees soft - no locking).

another thing to remember, most of us have been standing in a very different way for years. your hamstrings need to be nice and loose and your gluts strong to feel 100% comfortable in this posture. practice helps, stretching helps, and don't forget to rest when your body needs to.

Good description, Granolamom

Louise