How to Get Out of the Slump of Having Bad Posture

— -- Professional violinist Melissa Tong makes beautiful music, but recently it’s been a pain in the neck — literally.

“At various points I was feeling kind of like a pinching pain,” Tong, of New York City, said. “I was feeling pain here, some here, neck discomfort, achiness.”

What was causing the pain? Her bad posture.

Lindsay Newitter, a posture coach, teaches the Alexander Technique which helps to improve poor posture.

“It’s not just about slumping your shoulders,” Newitter explained.

She said it can cause physical pain like neck and back problems, breathing issues, energy depletion and more.

“It can affect how people perceive you,” she said. “It can affect how you feel emotionally [and] might affect if you get a second date or how you do on a job interview.”

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And don’t forget about heavy backpacks and repetitive stress from our many devices.

“We’re hearing about young people having injuries and spinal problems related to posture using their smartphone,” said Newitter.

After Tong put Newitter’s good habits to the test, she said they have made all the difference.

“The pain is so much less, almost non-existent,” she said.

Doctors recommend three simple steps to improve your posture as you sit at your desk all day: Keep your computer screen at eye-level, keep your elbows at a 90-degree angle and make sure your wrists and arms are supported.