Posture – The Nonverbal Expression
Brett Haderlie – Chiropractic Physician
Connect Chiropractic 1042 East Bamberger Dr American Fork, UT (801) 891-8670
We are fascinated with body language, especially the body language of others. We continually give and receive wordless signals subconsciously every time we interact. Posture, when standing or sitting, strongly impacts feelings and judgements because it gives a nonverbal clue others can use to determine how we feel about ourselves.
Our nonverbal communications, such as facial expressions, posture when standing or sitting, gestures, and eye contact speak volumes about us. For example, a smile, a contemptuous glance, a wink, upright posture, open arms rather than folded, eyes engaged rather than down, or a willingness to shake hands tell others how we feel about them and ourselves.
Amy Cuddy, a social psychologist known for her research on nonverbal behavior and the effects of social stimuli on hormone levels says, “We make judgements from body language that can significantly change outcomes in people’s lives. Nonverbal expressions often determine real life outcomes and govern how people think and feel about us.” Her research on body language has revealed that we can change other people’s perceptions, and even our own body chemistry, simply by changing body positions. “Power posing, which is standing or sitting in a posture of confidence even if we don’t feel confident, can affect testosterone and cortisol levels in the brain and impact our chances of success. People can become who they want to be by making small changes in their posture and nonverbal behaviors.” Her talks and educational presentations have favorably impacted thousands and helped them quickly make real life improvements.
Furthermore, according to the American Journal of Pain Management, “Posture modulates nearly every physiologic function from breathing to hormone production. Spinal pain, headache, mood, blood pressure, pulse, and lung capacity are among the functions most easily influenced by posture.”
Dr. Brett Haderlie of Connect Chiropractic emphasizes these points by saying, “Studies have shown that people do better in interviews and relationships when they present themselves with good posture and confidence. Hormone levels greatly affect moods and body language, and good posture improves hormone levels in addition to health and feelings of wellness.”
“In some ways, your body language shapes who you are,” Dr. Haderlie continues. “For overall health and quality of life, people should incorporate regular visits to a good chiropractor. Chiropractic is much more than just adjusting. Proper alignment, teaching stress reduction techniques, and helping people become more aware of the effects of how they carry their bodies are just some of the ways we can improve lives.”
