How many brides-to-be bust their butt for weeks on end in bootcamp fitness classes, only to walk down the aisle with rounded shoulders? Have a look at your friends’ Facebook wedding albums and I’m sure you will agree that most brides do just that. Here’s a fresh approach to looking the best possible on your special day.
Hunched up Bride
Few brides recognize the tremendous effect that their postural alignment has on how their wedding dress fits their body. In the image above you can see from my normal, relaxed standing posture (uncorrected) that my shoulders are rounded and my chest is sunken. The effects are an unsightly protruding belly and a loss of height that detract from the beauty and style of the dress.
Anyone who spends their day at a computer workstation almost always has an identical postural alignment. In the corrected posture photo the dress is considerably more flattering not to mention the enhanced appearance of health, athleticism and confidence.
Don’t give up bootcamp just yet
A good bootcamp fitness class will definitely trim off some layers, tone the muscles and give the skin a healthy glow, but like any fitness program that is not customized and balanced, it may promote faulty posture. By overtraining muscles that already have a tendency to shorten, your workout can work against you. The best example is with the pectoral (chest) muscles. Too many push ups and these muscles will turn you into a slumped bride, especially in the absence of upper back strengthening exercises.
Proud Bride
The good news is that the most drastic posture improvements come with simple awareness and the rest is generally corrected with a surprisingly simple stretch and strengthen program. Start with the 3 simple tips below or consult a kinesiologist for a comprehensive posture analysis and customized corrective training program.
3 posture strategies to look stunning in your wedding dress
Stand tall
Whether you are walking down the street or sitting at your computer, every time you bring awareness to your posture you are training yourself to reconnect to optimal alignment.
Stretch your Pecs
The chest muscles are guilty as charged for overpowering the muscles of the upper middle back. A door frame serves as a great place to outstretch the arms. Gently step through the doorway with one foot. Hold a gentle stretch across the chest for 30 seconds.
Row your boat
Rowing and pulling movements use the back muscles which keep the chest muscles in check. Example exercises to include in your workout: bent-over dumbbell rows, seated row, cable row, lat pulldown and reverse flies.
Photo credit: Mark Whitehead, Vestco Media
Posture analysis by: Rob Williams, Kinesiologist and owner at Performance Posture clinic
Dress by:Sandra Sung Bridal
I started pumping iron and drinking green smoothies in my teens. Now a 40+ mama with 25 years of experience working in the fitness industry, I do things differently. What I discovered during my personal healing journey made me pivot in my approach as a personal fitness and wellness coach. Now I teach people how to sweat, nourish and glow from an entirely new perspective.