The Transformative Guide to EFT for Posture Correction

Do you often sit for long periods and bend forward while using screens? Good posture isn’t just about looking poised and confident, it is also crucial for maintaining overall health and well-being. Fortunately, there are effective ways to correct bad posture, and one such method gaining attention is Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) for posture correction.

Are you one of those people who often find themselves slouching or hunched over the desk?

It might feel okay in the beginning, but after a while, you might find yourself struggling with persistent ache in your neck, shoulders, or back.

The sluggish lifestyles or desk-bound jobs is all too common to develop poor postural habits that can lead to discomfort, pain, and even long-term health issues.

But what if you could stand and sit comfortably, and feel lighter?

The good part is that there is a simple, drug-free technique that can help you correct your posture and alleviate the associated aches and pains. An alternative therapeutic technique called EFT Tapping which works great for posture correction and bringing back the physical harmony in your body.

EFT, also known as "Tapping," is a touch and talk technique that involves gently tapping on specific acupressure points while focusing on specific thoughts or emotions. It might sound a bit strange at first, but what you might not know is by tapping on these points, you can release emotional blocks and reduce stress, which in turn can help relax the muscles that contribute to poor posture.

You see when you're stressed or anxious, your body tends to tense up, making you unconsciously adopt postures that reinforce that tension. EFT Tapping for posture correction can help you break that cycle by addressing the emotional roots of your postural issues. It's a bit like hitting the reset button on your mind and body.

Before delving into this holistic technique, let’s understand what good posture is, its significance, some common problems associated with it, and the good methods to correct your posture for a better lifestyle.

After all, your posture speaks a lot about your personality!

What is a good posture?

Posture refers to how you hold yourself while sitting, standing, or lying down.

Proper posture means aligning the bones and joints, reducing muscle wear and tear, and ensuring efficient movement. It also enhances breathing, digestion, and circulation while preventing back and neck pain.

"Good" posture is essential as it enables movement with minimal strain and reduces the risk of injury. But what exactly is a “good” posture?

It is often characterised by standing straight with shoulders back and abdomen pulled in. However, posture isn't just about maintaining a rigid stance, it involves adopting various positions throughout the day to support different activities efficiently, promoting flexibility and ease of movement.

Instead of striving for a rigid posture, it's more beneficial to aim for a position where you:

Feel secure and balanced.

Can perform daily tasks effortlessly.

Minimise strain on your body.

Posture becomes "poor" when it leads to discomfort or impedes regular activities. This might occur if you:

Remain in one position for an extended period.

Struggle to maintain balance and require effort to stay upright.

Experience stiff muscles, which exacerbate poor posture habits.

What are some common postural problems related to the neck, back, and shoulders?

Identifying your postural issues is the first step toward correction. Common problems include:

Forward Head Posture

This occurs when the head leans forward too much, especially from looking at screens for too long or sitting in the wrong way.

Text Neck

A modern phenomenon caused by frequently looking down at smartphones and tablets, leading to strain on the neck muscles and misalignment of the cervical spine.

Neck Strain

Tension and tightness in the neck muscles due to prolonged periods of poor posture or physical strain.

Rounded Shoulders

Rounded shoulders involve the shoulders rolling forward and inward, which can be caused by sitting for long periods with poor postures, such as drooping at a desk.

Kyphosis or Hunchback

Some people get a hump or a bend in their upper back, often from sitting badly or having weak bones. It can be caused by factors like poor posture, osteoporosis, or structural issues in the spine.

Lordosis

Sometimes, the lower back curves too much inward, making it look like a big arch. This can happen from being too heavy, pregnant, or having weak muscles. It’s also referred to as "swayback."

Anterior Pelvic Tilt

This occurs when the pelvis tilts forward, causing the lower back to arch excessively. It can result from factors like tight hip flexors, weak abdominal muscles, or prolonged sitting.

Posterior Pelvic Tilt

In contrast to Anterior Pelvic Tilt, posterior pelvic tilt involves the pelvis tilting backward, flattening the natural curve of the lower back. It can be caused by weak hamstrings or glutes, tight hip flexors, or poor lifting techniques.

Uneven Shoulders or Hips

Sometimes, one shoulder or hip may sit higher than the other, leading to asymmetrical posture. This can result from muscle imbalances or because one leg is longer than the other.

Physical impact of poor posture

Incorrect posture in the back, neck, and shoulders can lead to reduced mobility, and increased risk of injury.

Bad posture can lead to a range of physical impacts, including chronic pain in the neck, shoulder, and back. It also causes stiffness, muscle fatigue, and joint damage which can be a reason for arthritis.

What’s more, it can also result in spine misalignment, cervical spondylosis, digestive issues like heartburn and slow digestion, poor circulation, incontinence, constipation, and sleep problems. Therefore, maintaining good posture is crucial for overall health and well-being.

The ripple effect of poor posture

Beyond physical discomfort, bad posture can profoundly impact various aspects of your overall life. When you sit or stand with bad posture, it doesn't just make your body ache, it can affect other parts of your life too. Bad posture might make you feel less confident and happy, and it could even make it harder to make friends or do well at work.

People might see you as less capable or in charge if you don't sit up straight. Plus, it could cause problems like arthritis or heart issues down the road, making life less enjoyable and shorter. So, fixing your posture isn't just about avoiding back pain, it's about feeling better overall and living a healthier life.

Holistic Solutions for Posture Correction

Addressing poor posture requires a multi-faceted approach that covers physical, emotional, and behavioural aspects:

Physical Exercises and Physiotherapy

Incorporate strength training, stretching, and ergonomic adjustments to improve muscle strength, flexibility, and alignment.

Mindfulness Practices

Cultivate awareness of body positioning throughout the day, incorporating mindfulness meditation and yoga to enhance the body-mind connection.

Ergonomic Workstations

Optimise work and home environments with ergonomic furniture and accessories to support proper posture during daily activities.

Nutrition and Hydration

Maintain a balanced diet and adequately hydrate yourself to support bone health, muscle function, and tissue repair.

Stress Management

Explore stress-reduction techniques such as deep breathing, meditation, and relaxation exercises to alleviate tension and promote relaxation.

Pillows for Posture Correction

Such pillows are designed to support the natural curve of the spine during sleep, helping to maintain proper alignment.

Braces for Posture Correction

These devices pull your shoulders back, aligning the spine properly and training your muscles to maintain good posture.

EFT Tapping: A gateway to transformative posture correction!

EFT Tapping can be a helpful tool for posture correction as it can address both the physical and emotional aspects of poor posture. When you tap on specific acupressure points while focusing on your posture, it can help release tension, stress, sadness, demotivation, and irritation stored in the body, allowing for a more natural alignment.

Additionally, EFT Tapping can address any emotional issues or negative beliefs that may be contributing to poor posture, such as low self-esteem or anxiety. By tapping on these emotional blocks, you can create a more positive mindset and attitude towards yourself and your body, which can support you in maintaining better posture habits.

Here is evidence of how EFT Tapping can help in posture correction and reducing pain associated with posture problems:

EFT Tapping helped Judy to heal and restore hip mobility!

EFT Tapping, when coupled with intuition and muscle testing, can yield remarkable results in restoring mobility and alleviating pain, as illustrated by this person’s journey. Judy, experiencing persistent hip pain despite conventional treatments, turned to EFT as a last resort. Through intuitive exploration, it was revealed that her pain was linked to unresolved emotional issues surrounding her father. Despite initial scepticism, Judy embraced the process, and through targeted EFT tapping, she experienced significant relief from her hip pain and regained full mobility. This case underscores the importance of addressing both physical and emotional aspects of health and trusting Emotional Freedom techniques in the healing journey (1).

EFT Tapping for TMJD Relief

A primary school teacher struggling with TMJD (temporomandibular joint disorder) reached out seeking relief for his chronic jaw pain. He recognised stress as a likely culprit, tracing back the onset of his symptoms to college during times of high stress. After trying acupuncture, which provided temporary relief and heightened awareness of stress triggers, he turned to EFT for a more sustainable solution. During the session, specific stressors were addressed, reducing his SUD levels from 8 to 4 after just one round of tapping. Notably, his shoulder tension, also rated at 8, dissipated entirely. He was so astonished by the immediate results that he sought the tools to manage stress in real time and the option for deeper EFT work to address underlying patterns. This case demonstrates the power of EFT in alleviating both emotional and physical symptoms, empowering persons to take control of their well-being (2).

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EFT Tapping Steps to Enhance Your Posture

Step 1:

Acknowledge Your Current State

Explore the physical sensations in the body associated with bad posture and use the physical tension-tapping process to reduce the sensations.

Temperature check

Begin by checking how you are feeling emotionally and physically concerning your posture correction efforts.

Identify the specific aspects of your posture problems that are causing negative emotion to grow within you, for example, irritation or distress. Describe in detail the emotions, thoughts, and physical sensations accompanying these feelings.

(In the tapping sequence below, we are using 'irritation' as the core emotion. Feel free to replace it with any other emotion that you might be experiencing and work on it, one emotion at a time.)

Questions to consider:

What aspects of posture issues irritate you the most?
What triggers your irritation regarding your posture?
What changes would you need to feel less irritated about your posture?

Explore the physical sensations

Focus on where in your body you feel the irritation. Describe these sensations using colour, texture, size, and shape. Measure the intensity of your irritation and distress on a scale of 1 to 10.

Begin tapping on the Karate Chop (Side of the Hand)

Use a tapping statement to acknowledge your feelings, for example,

"Even though I am feeling irritated about my posture correction efforts, because they don’t seem to be working, and I feel this irritation in my [specify body part], and it’s at a level ____, ____ in colour, and it makes me feel [describe the sensation], I deeply and completely love and accept myself.”

Tap on the facial and upper body EFT Tapping Points

Tap using the following phrases or tailor them according to your feelings of irritation and pain:

Eyebrow: This irritation about my posture...
Side of the Eye: I feel it in my...
Under the Eye: It is at a level...
Under the Nose: It makes me feel...
Chin: This irritation is...
Collarbone: It makes me feel so...
Under the Arm: This feeling of...
Thumb: Because of my posture, I feel...
Index Finger: This irritation in...
Middle Finger: I feel it deeply in my...
Ring Finger: This sense of irritation…
Little Finger: It feels so…

Close the Sequence by tapping on the Karate Chop again

Reiterate the setup statement to reinforce self-acceptance despite the irritation and distress,

"Even though I am feeling irritated and I am distressed about my posture correction efforts, and I feel this irritation and stress in my [specify body part], it’s at a level ___, ___ in colour, and it makes me feel [describe the sensation], I deeply and completely love and accept myself.”

Breathe, relax, and hydrate

Take a moment to breathe deeply, relax, and hydrate yourself.

Test and reflect

Re-evaluate the intensity of your irritation and distress. Ask yourself:

What number is the irritation at now?
What has changed after the tapping?
How do I feel about my posture correction journey now?

If your irritation and distress level has decreased and you feel more at ease, you may conclude the session. If not, repeat the tapping rounds as needed.

Step 2:

Probe Into Past Experiences Related to Posture Problems and Address Them

Connect with the emotions surrounding past experiences related to your posture issues and observe where you feel them in your body.

To uncover memories associated with posture-related issues, consider asking:

When did you first feel concerned about your posture?
What events or circumstances were happening around that time?
Have you experienced similar physical or emotional sensations in the past?
Can you identify triggers that worsen these feelings about your posture problems?

Tapping into these memories and emotions facilitate healing and promote a more positive approach to posture correction.

Step 3:

Address Any Limiting Beliefs From the Past

Reflect on past incidents that may have contributed to your current feelings of irritation and distress about your posture correction efforts. Work on transforming these beliefs into positive affirmations that support your posture improvement goals.

For example,

"My posture is terrible, and it’s too late to fix it" to "I can improve my posture with time and effort."
"I feel uncomfortable when I try to sit up straight" to "It’s becoming easier and more natural to maintain good posture."
"Good posture is too hard to maintain" to "I am capable of holding myself with grace and ease."
"Correcting my posture is overwhelming" to "I am taking small, positive steps towards better posture."

Step 4:

Conclude with Positive Tapping

End the sequence with affirmations that provide strength and positivity, such as:

“Even though the process of improving my posture can be challenging and makes me feel irritated sometimes, I choose to focus on the steady efforts and embrace the small progress I am making every day."
"I have the power to create positive changes in my posture and how I carry myself."
"I align my body naturally, allowing energy to flow freely."

EFT for posture correction, yoga for posture correction; posture correction exercises

This tapping sequence aims to help you navigate the emotional aspects of posture correction, developing self-compassion and resilience along the way.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

How to sleep for posture correction?

Regardless of your sleeping position, it’s important to maintain alignment between your ears, shoulders, and hips;

Back Sleepers: Use a small pillow under your knees to lessen spinal stress and support your lower back’s natural curve. Your head pillow should support your head, neck’s natural curve, and shoulders.
Stomach Sleepers: This position can strain the back as it can misalign the spine. A flat pillow under your stomach and pelvis can help keep your spine better aligned. Your head pillow should be flat, or you might consider sleeping without one.
Side Sleepers: A firm pillow between your knees can prevent your upper leg from misaligning your spine and reduce stress on your hips and lower back. Draw your knees slightly toward your chest. Your head pillow should keep your spine straight. A rolled towel or small pillow under your waist can also provide spine support.

Note: When turning in bed, avoid twisting or bending at the waist. Instead, move your entire body as a single unit.

How long does posture correction take?

The time it takes to correct posture can vary greatly depending on the severity of the issue and the methods used for correction. For minor posture issues, improvements might be seen within a few weeks of consistent exercise and conscious correction of your posture.

More ingrained posture problems, however, may take several months to a year of continuous effort to see significant changes.

By practicing good sitting posture, regularly stretching, and doing core-strengthening exercises, you should see results in anything from a few months to half a year. Posture correction is an ongoing process, and everyone responds to it at their own pace. It’s important to remember that consistency and dedication are key in this process.

How long do posture problems take to heal with EFT Tapping?

The duration for posture correction with EFT (Emotional Freedom Techniques) can vary greatly from person to person, as it depends on individual circumstances and the intensity of the issue being addressed.

EFT Tapping works by tuning into your emotional and physiological responses. It’s important to note that the relief from tapping is long-term. This means that the more you do the more relief you will experience. It is worth tapping on everything that you can identify that is painful or constricting in your life.

Remember, it is always a good idea to consult with a Certified EFT Practitioner if you are new to EFT Tapping or if you are dealing with serious issues. They can guide you through the process and help ensure you are using the technique effectively.

"Proper posture sends a positive message since 90% of all communication occurs through body language and how you carry yourself."

Cindy Ann PetersoN

Correcting bad posture is not just about physical adjustments, it’s a holistic process involving both body and mind. EFT Tapping offers a powerful tool to address the emotional root causes of poor posture, leading to long-lasting improvements in both physical alignment and emotional well-being.

So, why not give it a try and tap your way to a healthier posture and a happier you?

Love,

Dr Rangana Rupavi Choudhari (PhD)

P.S. Want to discover if EFT Tapping is right for you? Book a Complimentary Discovery Call.

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In summary, poor posture has become a common issue leading to overall discomfort and long-term health challenges. Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT), with its ability to help with core issues, serve as a guiding light in addressing emotional blocks and releasing tension stored in the body. Tapping offers a drug-free and holistic approach to improving posture and alleviating associated aches and pains.

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