Not only do we tend to have “bad” posture, but we tend to make bad use of the word, posture. The two problems are undoubtedly related. The word posture, in its fullest sense, refers to many of our characteristics. It implies our attitudes, our inclinations, and even our perspectives. In a similar manner, even governments have “postures.” Posture is an actual, if not always visible, representation of our entire personality. It is descriptive. But the word posture is too often used in a prescriptive sense, as in good posture or bad posture. Somehow it has become fashionable to think that we can, rather mechanically, turn what we have decided is bad posture into good posture. No need to confront our attitudes, our inclinations, our perspectives, and our self- images… just change bad to good.

As a result of this short-sighted approach, the word, posture, is frequently considered “bad” to teachers and students in the Alexander Technique and other forms of mind/body intervention. I merely suggest here that we attempt to return the word to its appropriate stature, as a physical if not always easily visible representation of ourselves, reflecting all the richness and color, not just good and bad, which can be found in any personality.