Quick Posture Refresher (Standing/Walking)

POSTURE (Standing/Walking)
If you work at ADS with me, chances are that you'll be at our annual Warrior Expo East show for the next 2 days in VA Beach, VA.  If so, you're going to be doing a ton of standing and walking around.  No matter how good we think our posture is, chances are that it could always be better.  The goal is not to stand/walk with perfect posture 100% of the time.  No one does that. 

High Speed Health is built on concepts that are consistent for long periods of time.  It's not about being perfect all the time so that successes run out or burn out.  The idea is to find a happy medium that is still a major improvement over our past ways. 

A very attainable goal would be to eliminate as many bad habits as possible, reducing muscle stress and pain, therefore increasing quality of life.

That said, one bad habit I had for years and years was that I would stand with my
knees locked.  I was so used to standing that way, I didn't even realize I was doing anything wrong.  Try to stand and walk with your knees relaxed and slightly bent.  At the same time, engage your leg muscles, which will be the base support of your body.  Try to keep your quads, hamstrings, calves, and glutes all contracted proportionately.  This will reduce tension and soreness in any one area.  Try to keep your knees relaxed and bent when both standing and walking.  It'll reduce joint pain and unnecessary muscle strain significantly. 

Keep a slight lumbar curve in your lower back.  Keep your chest/rib cage leaned forward over your pelvis slightly.  If you glance down, you should NOT be able to see your ankles, just your toes. 

Keep your head directly over your upper body, not leaned forward or back at all (which will cause unnecessary neck pain). 

Athlete of the Week
I want to wish a happy birthday to the most high speed shorty on the planet!  Brady Pants turned 5 this week.  He's pictured below with me at his party, with his new big boy bike, and with a couple more high speed b-day presents (a Star Wars guy and some 5-finger toe shoes).  Yes....5 years old....and 5-finger toe shoes.  He loves 'em!

Winners!
Congrats to these winners of my pop quiz this week!  They will all receive a $10 iTunes gift card code!
1. Kev Wilkins - Nawfuk, VA (first to reply via email)
2. Brett Danaher - Boston, Mass (first to post answers to my HSH Facebook page)
3. Paige "Paigers" Seifert - VA Beach, VA (first to post answers to my HSH blog)

Thanks for winning y'all!  Have a great weekend!

Todd B.
High Speed Health