The Power of Posture and Breathing: Insights from Aaron Alexander

Aaron Alexander, founder of the Align Method, recently sat down to discuss the profound impact that posture, breathing, and movement can have on our overall health and wellbeing. As an expert in body alignment and manual therapy, Alexander offered valuable insights into how we can optimize our physical and mental state through simple yet powerful practices.

The Importance of Posture

Alexander emphasized that poor posture is not just an aesthetic issue - it can have serious implications for our health. He explained:

"Poor posture is not a moralistic thing, it's just what are the results that you're seeking. If you put like a moralistic judgment on something, it'll probably put yourself into a double bind and you'll create like this feeling of like guilt and resistance and all that stuff."

Instead of judging ourselves, Alexander recommends focusing on creating balance and neutrality in the body. This allows for better circulation, nervous system function, and overall wellbeing.

Some key points he made about posture include:

• Sitting on the ground or using a sit-rise desk can help improve posture and circulation
• Varying your positions throughout the day is important
• Relaxing into good alignment is more effective than forcing rigid posture
• Poor posture can compress nerves and blood vessels, leading to various health issues

Breathing as a Bridge Between Mind and Body

One of the most fascinating aspects of the discussion was Alexander's insights on breathing. He described breath as "literally the bridge between your mind and your body" and explained how proper breathing mechanics can transform our mental and physical state.

Some key points on breathing:

• Most people are "stressed survivors" when it comes to breathing patterns
• Understanding breathing mechanics is crucial but often overlooked
• Breath can modulate our nervous system and emotional state
• Proper breathing improves focus and reduces inflammation

Alexander has even created a breathing program and quiz to help people assess and improve their breathing patterns. He believes this simple practice can have profound effects:

"You can start to augment and modulate and change the way that you feel, the way that you're perceived, the way that you connect with other people, you connect with yourself, all that stuff just through understanding the mechanics of breathing."

Movement as Medicine

Beyond posture and breathing, Alexander is a big proponent of natural, varied movement throughout the day. He critiqued the modern sedentary lifestyle and encouraged incorporating more diverse movements:

"We have these Waste Management Systems in our body called our lymphatic system and the places where your lymphatic system has the highest concentration lymphatic glands are in places of a high volume of movement...You're naturally running your waste management system."

Some of his recommendations for healthy movement include:

• Taking frequent movement breaks throughout the day
• Incorporating dance and varied motions
• Using resistance bands for joint mobilization
• Spending time barefoot when possible
• Squatting and floor sitting

The Mind-Body Connection

A recurring theme in Alexander's philosophy is the deep connection between our mental and physical states. He explained how our posture, breathing, and movement patterns both reflect and influence our psychological state.

For example, he described how truly confident, "alpha" body language tends to be relaxed and at ease rather than rigid or puffed up. He also noted how changing our physical state through movement and breathing can shift our mental and emotional state.

This mind-body link extends to areas like sleep as well. Alexander emphasized that feeling safe, loved, and purposeful is more important for good sleep than any supplement or hack:

"If you feel safe, if you feel loved, if you have like if you're looking forward to your day tomorrow, you had a great day where you feel gratified and you feel like you exhausted yourself in the best possible way, you probably sleep really good."

Practical Tips for Optimizing Health

Throughout the conversation, Alexander offered numerous practical suggestions for improving alignment, breathing, and overall wellbeing:

• Use resistance bands for joint mobilization and stretching, especially when traveling
• Incorporate more barefoot time and varied foot positions
• Take frequent "movement snacks" throughout the day
• Practice relaxed, panoramic vision to calm the nervous system
• Reduce artificial light exposure, especially before bed
• Spend time in nature and sunlight
• Focus on feeling safe and purposeful rather than chasing health fads

The Bigger Picture: Reconnecting with Our Nature

Ultimately, Alexander's philosophy centers on reconnecting with our innate, natural patterns of movement and being. He critiqued the modern tendency to overcomplicate health:

"We have access to all of the health stuff we could possibly have but it's all minutia because you're not accessing like the wisdom of nature...Just go outside and when you're inside do inside more like you would have done in nature like when people were healthy."

By realigning ourselves with these natural patterns - varied movement, time outdoors, connection with others - Alexander believes we can dramatically improve our health and wellbeing. His approach offers a refreshing alternative to rigid exercise regimens or complex supplement protocols.

Instead, he encourages cultivating an intuitive, playful relationship with our bodies and environment. This holistic perspective considers not just physical health, but also our mental, emotional and social wellbeing.

Conclusion

Aaron Alexander's insights offer a compelling vision for optimizing our health through simple yet powerful practices. By paying attention to our posture, breathing, and natural movement patterns, we can dramatically improve both our physical and mental state.

His approach emphasizes working with our bodies rather than against them, and reconnecting with our innate wisdom rather than chasing the latest health fads. For those looking to improve their wellbeing, Alexander's practical tips and holistic philosophy provide an excellent starting point.

Whether it's incorporating more varied movements throughout the day, optimizing our breathing mechanics, or simply spending more time in nature, these practices can help us feel more aligned, energized and at ease in our bodies and lives.

Article created from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PYPocXDWyVM