What Do I Mean By Posture?

Often when we think of posture we think of something held in a certain position. In fact the word posture is derived from the Latin verb ‘ponere’ meaning to put or place and from the noun ‘positura’ meaning position so it’s not really surprising.

However in the late 16th century when the word came to England it was used to denote the relative position of one thing to another.

Using the word posture in this latter way for me is better (although still not a perfect description), as it creates the idea of the possibility of movement. Posture can then be used to describe a snapshot of any movement from sitting, standing to running, pole vaulting, pirouetting or playing the piano. And this snapshot is the only still you can have. Our bodies are constantly in movement, the smallest of moments even, as our heart beats, our blood flows and our body breathes. In order to create an idea of good posture however we can tend to stiffen, tense and hold our breathe often before collapsing again. Or maybe have no awareness at all apart from discomfort or pain.

The idea of the relative position of parts however can be used in anything we do and doesn’t have to be stiff and held, not floppy and unresponsive either, just alert, lively, balanced, poised and responsive.