In this week's Align and Move Online class, we practiced movements of the cervical, thoracic and lumbar spine and how creating more freedom in the spine helps support the weight of the head. 

During the class I mentioned Dowager's hump which is actually an outdated and not-so-helpful term for hyper kyphosis.

Hyper kyphosis is an increased curvature of the spine beyond what is considered normal. Constant computer use, mobile phones (aka Tech Neck), driving, postural habits and pillows all contribute to forward head carriage, which can lead to severe cases of hyper kyphosis, especially in individuals with osteoporosis.

Retraining your movement and posture habits can help reduce overload and demand on the thoracic and cervical vertebrae.

By orienting yourself to how you carry your head daily and what a balanced, aligned, and supported position feels like, you can distribute the responsibility of carrying your head around your entire spine and body, rather than just a few segments.

Hyper kyphosis can be managed with mindful movement and refining your awareness of postural habits that contribute to forward head carriage.

The more you practice restoring your head position, the more often you will catch yourself collapsing into the not-so-helpful forward head position. You are creating NEW posture habits.

What you practice now will pay dividends in years to come.