A common adjustment for better "posture" is often to lift the chest. Unfortunately, this stems from an aesthetic, cultural preference (from the military, ballet, etc.) which makes us seem upright and open from the front, but is not actually a desirable alignment for the well functioning body. The lifting of the chest tends to rotate the ribcage backwards possibly causing some shear of the mid to lower vertebra, a decrease the function of the core muscles, an increase of lower back tension, and actually doesn't fix the rounding of the spine for which the lifting of the chest was intended!

In this class, we'll identify a healthier alignment of the ribs in relation to the pelvis and then explore some movements to help this adjustment become our new normal.