How to stand out amongst the stars (because everyone goes to the odd movie premiere - right?)
There are some people who walk into a room and instantly attract attention. Take actress Helen Mirren – when she steps onto the red carpet she instantly oozes confidence and as a result, all eyes are on her.
Her secret? Good posture.
Our posture is hugely affected by our lifestyle. Everyday activities can leave us hunched over and tense; working at a desk, driving to work and even watching TV on the sofa.
Slumped positions leave us with posture akin to people with depression and low self-esteem; excessive forward flexion of the spine encourages the head to drop into a passive, unassuming position which could leave you feeling less confident than if you were standing up straight.
Working on how you sit, stand and walk will make you feel better as well as making you look slimmer and taller (and who doesn’t want that?)
Try doing this simple exercise once or twice a day to improve your posture (barefoot works best):
- Stand on one leg and keep the foot you’re standing on still. It’s ok if your ankle wobbles a bit – it means the muscles around this area are working hard to keep you balanced!
- Next, quickly move your arms from right to left and up and down to try and throw yourself off balance – but remember, the aim of the game is to stay standing on one leg!
- Try and do this for at least 30 seconds. When you’ve finished, switch legs and repeat on the other side. Simple!