5 Exercises to Improve Your Posture

Good posture is like a magic pill that can instantly make you look at least five pounds slimmer.

Look at Miley—these pictures were taken on the exact same day in the exact same outfit.

She's an incredibly thin young woman, but when she slouches her waist, arms and shoulders all appear larger and less toned then in the picture where she is standing up straight.

Having perfect posture isn't as simple as just starting to standing up straight—you need to build the muscles in your back and shoulders which will help you support your body weight while you are standing.

These exercises will help strengthen your core, back and shoulder—all the muscles involved in giving you the perfect posture to look instantly slimmer.

Posture Perfecting Exercises

Watch the whole routine:Posture Perfect

Warm Up: Arm Circles

Rotate your arms in large, forward circles. Keep your abs tight and your eyes focused forward.

Single Arm Row

Stand beside the chair, placing your hand on the armrest for support. Step forward with your inner leg and back with your outer leg, bending forward at the waist and letting your outside arm hang straight down. Pull the dumbbell towards your waist, keeping your elbow close to your side. Keep your back straight and your head level.

Back Support

Sit with your legs extended, your feet together and your hands placed behind your back with your fingers pointing toward your hips. Point your toes and raise your upper body off the floor so that your body makes a straight 45-degree angle from your head to your toes. Hold this position for a few seconds before lowering your body into the starting position.

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