Before we go on, let's introduce you to your core. We can do that with a simple exercise. Stand with your legs slightly bent and your feet about ten inches apart. Without changing the bend in your knees squeeze your legs together. Your inner thighs will tighten and you should feel tension in the bottoms of your feet as the floor keeps them from moving toward each other. See if you can feel the tension in your thighs extend up into the pelvis and low back. If you can look in a mirror you might even see yourself get taller. This happens when your spine lengthens as your pelvis drops and your back flattens while your neck stretches upward.

We will return to this posture shortly. For now you have accomplished two things. First, you have experienced the activity of the core muscles, if only in a limited way. Second, you have begun to see the connection between the inside leg muscles and the spine and, through that connection, how the core muscles might influence posture.

This exercise should be repeated twice daily for one to five minutes, either continuously or alternating the leg squeeze with a brief period of rest. If you have pain or difficulty with this exercise, you may have an unhealed injury or misalignment  in your spine, hip, knee or ankle which may need correction before progress can be made. A chiropractor or physical therapist trained in manipulation and myofascial release is the place to start.