It took me a few stubborn days of aggressive googling and magical thinking (“It’ll be fine…”), a workout I really shouldn’t have attempted, and finally the insistence of my husband to be more proactive. So I reluctantly scheduled a visit to the chiropractor—and thus began my journey of posture rectification. The first thing the chiropractor asked me was, “What’s your desk situation?” Admittedly, my desk situation was also not ideal, often doing work on the couch or at the kitchen table. On that day, I committed to improving my standing, sitting, and walking posture. Along the way I have tried a lot of products, but these are the items that have actually helped make a difference. Note: Because it’s a bit more aggressive compared to others, it’s not meant to be worn every single day or for long stretches. In fact, the brand says to wear it for 20 to 30 minutes per day at first, and then gradually build up to two-hour sessions. The goal is to create good habits and train your brain and body on proper form. I’ll be honest and say that there have been moments where I curse this device because it is a persistent little thing. However, those little buzzes—as annoying as they might become—are ultimately a good thing. Using it has certainly called attention to my slouching, and the improvements have been slow and steady. To use, you place it directly under your back and roll back and forth (butt on the ground), then move down the spine slowly, taking about five deep breaths at each stop. The first couple weeks using this foam roller was intense because my back was simply not used to being stretched that way. Now I get excited to use it because it feels amazing right after, and I can tell it’s improving my posture in the long run.
