Posture out of the saddle

[Naiad]

I think that in the saddle I have relatively okay posture, not perfect but not too bad.

In the real world, I generally have better posture than many people. I look reasonably tall and proud.  

But then I started to read some web sites on posture as I've noticed that I always have muscle knots in my trapezius. And I noted that although my posture to an outsider looks reasonably good, there are some flaws! I've decided that my posture will become so much better in the saddle if I can really master good posture all of the time I am out of the saddle. My main flaw is a slight forward position of the shoulders and collapse of my chest area/upper abdomen (although this does not seem to put my head out of alignment - I seem to isolate the forwardness of the shoulders without putting my head forward - not sure if the chest/abdomen pulls the shoulders forward or the other way around) - it is not really that obvious to others and as I said, I have reasonably good posture compared to most people on the street - but now that I have noted it I am a bit surprised I did not pick up on this before. And if my posture looks okay relative to others and yet there are these flaws, just how bad is the average person on the street's posture?

Do those of you with relatively good posture in the saddle have good posture at all times out of the saddle or not? Does anyone have any tips for working on posture out of the saddle? I really want excellent posture out of the saddle to become second nature to me.

Below is one web link that I was looking at. There are before and after photos for a number of different people. So what do you guys think of these before and after postures - would these new posture positions lead to improved performance under saddle (if these were riders)? What do or do you not like about the postural changes? I am not particularly interested in the methods that this company is advocating (did not even read that part of the web site) but was just examining the postural photos out of interest.
http://www.postureclinic.ca/content.php?cms_id=3

 

[jenb]

I think posture out of the saddle has a huge bearing on how we ride.  If we walk/sit a certain way out of habit, those habits will carry over into the time we spend in the saddle.  I'm having Alexander Technique lessons to improve my posture and it's certainly helped with the habitual tension I have in my shoulders and upper back through being in an office all day.

[Naiad]

What is Alexander Technique? Do you go to a clinic or do this at home?

[Taliessin]

Briefly, AT teaches you to use yourself correctly - you need to find yourself a teacher (Google The Society of Teachers of the Alexander Technique), as you can't really learn it from books etc. But once you have had some lessons, then you can work on it yourself all the time! HTH 

[kezimac]

I too have forward shoulders and tight trap muscles too. I have been told to imagine wearing a frilly black bra with a pretty white bow on the front. Now think about raising the bow. Really helps me lift ribs, chest and aligns body better than me thinking shoulders back or being tight over shoulder area.

[kezimac]

oh it might not work if your a guy !!!! lol

[Naiad]

oh it might not work if your a guy !!!! lol

Female at this end so that imagery could work for me! But as you recognized, that imagery would be a bit, er, strange for a guy!!! He probably would hunch over to hide his frilly bra!!! 

[aspasia]

Try rolfing (check rolfing.org) They align you in 10 sessions.
I have tried it and it works