Here’s a little extra “exercise” for you the next time you get your sweat on.

Chances are you have heard it before…

“Train how you want to look.”

That simple saying is extremely influential and outweighs almost any other exercise coaching advice because it makes such a HUGE difference.

We’ll get to exactly HOW you “train how you want to look” in a second, but first let’s talk about what good posture is and why it matters so much.

Most of us don’t normally give much thought to our posture. It’s automatic – we rely on our muscles to take care of it for us. A lot of muscles are involved in maintaining proper posture and paying attention to them 24/7 would be overwhelming!

So, what is “good” posture, anyway?

Think of your body like a mountain, with its base at your feet. The mountain rises up tall through the front of your body – your shins, quadriceps, core, chest and shoulders – and then goes down your back, hips, hamstrings and calves.

All of those muscles work together to hold your body in place, keep your balance, etc.

and they can affect your breathing! For example, if your shoulders are rounded forward and your chest muscles are tight, it can be hard to expand your lungs for a deep breath.

That’s why it is super important to think about your posture when you exercise. After all, you are working to make your body STRONGER, and you want to make it stronger in an upright, aligned posture, right?

Now, it’s time for that extra “exercise” mentioned above.

The next time you crank out a set of core exercises, go for a walk or jog, pick up a set of weights, or do any kind of workout, take a good look at your posture. If you can’t do a quick posture check in a mirror, take a moment to at least think about it.

Are you standing tall with your core engaged? Are you maintaining good body patterns: your shoulders set back, your chest up, and legs strong?

Or are you reinforcing patterns that aren’t great for you, with your shoulders rounded or your joints locked?

When you start training your body the way you want it to look, you’ll reinforce your mind-muscle connection and you’ll reap the benefits.

Your posture will start to improve 24/7 (even outside the gym), your core will get stronger, fast – and there’s a good chance you’ll notice a boost in your confidence, too.

Who doesn’t want that!?