This Posture-Correcting Exercise Will Also Strengthen Your Core

Correcting your posture can be, in a word, overwhelming. If you have poor posture, and have for a while, the idea of correcting years' worth of slouch can feel like taking on a project that you don't want to do but know you should (at least, that's how it feels to me).

There are plenty of places to start when it comes to improving your posture, but sometimes it's easier (on the mind and the body) to take it one step at a time. So on those days that no other posture-improving practices fit the bill, there's one movement that you should prioritize above the rest.

A pelvic tilt, in physical therapist terms, is an isolated motion of moving your pelvis on your lumbar spine (aka your lower back). It can be performed in multiple positions and is important for a number of reasons.

"By being able to do a pelvic tilt, you can teach yourself how to find your neutral spine position. Neutral spine position puts the lumbar spine in its ideal alignment to tolerate loads like gravity or picking something up," says Sarah Kostyukovsky, P.T., DPT, OCS.

Now that you've mastered the art of the basic pelvic tilt, you're probably asking "What's next?" No? Just me?

Once you learn how to do a pelvic tilt lying down, you can try it sitting, standing, or in tabletop position. Kostyukovsky has her patients perform a pelvic tilt 10 to 20 times a day in various positions but recommends that you give it a try and see how your body responds.

"If you're performing a pelvic tilt for improved posture, try checking in with yourself several times a day when sitting or standing. These are positions that you can do a pelvic tilt in—so doing one during the day will help you find your neutral spine position or ideal alignment!"