Kat is a friend’s sister-in-law. Kat has been a certified Anusara Yoga Teacher for many years. In July 2006, Kat showed us how to use a yoga strap around our upper body to bring the chest and rib cage into an easeful (no muscle tension required) and a more properly aligned posture. We’ll be using Kat’s belt to assist in more proper upper body posture in the Rise Up and Bend Down – Upper Body Posture Plus Bending Posture Awareness Workshop. If time allows, we may be able to give a quick demonstration after the other two workshops.

Most people’s upper body posture is curving forward to some degree (rounded shoulders and/or a rounding of the upper back). This rounding forward always increases muscle tension in the neck, shoulders, and back. You may not be aware of this rounding in some people. If you were to bring their upper posture into proper alignment, you’d immediately notice the difference.

I was working on my upper body posture for two years before Kat showed us how to use the belt to assist bringing our upper body toward more proper posture. My upper body posture has changed so much by using Kat’s belt for about an hour a day five times a week for two months.

In the first two years I gained about 15% of my current progress by bringing my upper body into more proper alignment. This re-aligning would last only as long as I had attention on this re-aligning. My attention lasted a short number of minutes at most.

In the last two months, I’ve gotten 85% of my current progress. And this progress is real progress. In daily life (without Kat’s belt on), my posture is much better. This is because Kat’s belt holds my posture easefully in more proper alignment for as long as I’m wearing it (an hour or more). By experiencing this easeful (not tense) more proper postural position for an hour or more at a time, my body is being trained in how to stay in this more appropriate position. My upper body posture is not proper yet, though it’s improving so much faster than what I was previously doing.