The Postural Boomerang — Why “Good Posture” Might Be Making Things Worse

Many people think posture problems come down to one simple issue: slouching.

So the solution seems obvious.
Stand up straight.
Pull your shoulders back.
Lift your chest.

But what if that advice is actually part of the problem?

In my studio, I see something happen almost every day — a pattern I call the Postural Boomerang.

And once you see it, you can’t unsee it.

The First Half of the Boomerang: The Slump

It usually begins with the familiar posture many of us recognize in ourselves.

Shoulders rounding forward.
Head drifting slightly out in front.
Spine softening into a curve.

The surprising part?

It often feels relaxed.

It feels like letting go.

But when we look more closely at what’s happening inside the body, something very different is going on.

When the spine collapses forward:

• The front of the spine compresses downward
• The back muscles begin working overtime to keep the body from falling forward
• The head becomes heavier for the neck to support

The result is a quiet background effort — one that becomes so familiar we stop noticing it.

Many people tell me they feel tired by the end of the day without knowing why.
Often, this is part of the reason.

The Overcorrection: “Good Posture”

Then comes the moment I see again and again.

I ask someone if they notice anything about their posture.

Immediately they respond:

"Oh I know… I have terrible posture."

Then they demonstrate their version of fixing it.

Shoulders roll back.
Chest lifts dramatically.
The lower back arches.

They hold it for about ten seconds.

Then — almost inevitably — they drift back into the slump.

This is where the boomerang appears.

Because what most people think of as “good posture” is actually an overcorrection.

Instead of compression in the front of the body, we create compression in the back.

Instead of collapsing forward, we pull ourselves upright with effort.

This exaggerated posture often creates:

• Tight lower back
• Rib cage tension
• Fatigue from holding the position
• Restricted breathing

In anatomical terms, this pattern often increases lumbar lordosis — an excessive arch in the lower spine.

The Postural Boomerang

This creates a cycle that looks like this:

Slumped down ↔ Pulled up

Compressed in the front ↔ Compressed in the back.

Back and forth.

Neither position feels sustainable, because neither one actually allows the body to balance itself naturally.

This is The Postural Boomerang.

And most people spend years bouncing between these two options.

There’s a Third Possibility

But posture isn’t really about holding a position.

It’s about coordination.

There’s a place that isn’t slumping or pulling.

A place where the spine can lengthen naturally, the head balances more easily, and the whole body organizes itself with far less effort.

It’s less like holding a pose…

…and more like discovering a state of ease and support.

The Story Underneath Posture

One of the most fascinating places I see the boomerang pattern show up is with teenage students.

Particularly girls who are tall or have recently experienced a growth spurt.

Many of them develop a pronounced slump — not because their bodies are weak, but because they’re trying to take up less space.

Trying to feel smaller.
Trying to match the height of their friends.

Often they have no idea they’re doing it until we slow down and look together at what’s happening.

And when they realize they can stand fully in their height — when they feel their skeleton supporting them instead of fighting gravity — something shifts.

They smile.
Sometimes they laugh.
They feel lighter and more grounded at the same time.

That moment is one of the reasons I love teaching this work!

Because it’s rarely just about posture.

It’s about the stories our bodies learned to carry.

Stories about fitting in.
About taking up less space.
About trying harder to get it right.

When those stories loosen their grip, the body often changes with them.

Why This Matters Beyond Singing

Many people assume the Alexander Technique is only for performers or musicians.

But the patterns I see in singers show up everywhere:

• Chronic neck tension
• Recurring lower back pain
• Shoulder tightness
• Fatigue from trying to “sit up straight” all day

Often the problem isn’t strength.

And it isn’t lack of discipline.

It’s the habit of trying to fix posture instead of allowing coordination to emerge.

This is exactly what Alexander Technique helps people explore.

Not by forcing the body into a better position — but by increasing awareness and giving the nervous system new choices.

Experience This Work in Person

If this idea resonates with you, we’ll be exploring it directly at the upcoming Integration Lab in Colorado Springs.

In this hands-on class, we’ll work with the Postural Boomerang pattern together.

Not by searching for a better posture to hold — but by discovering how the body can organize itself with less effort.

This class is for you if:

• You feel stuck between slouching and trying to “fix” your posture
• Pain or tension keeps returning no matter what you try
• You’re curious about what real ease might feel like in your body
• You’re not a singer (this work is for everyone)

Integration Lab – March 14, 2026 @ 10 - 11:30 AM
Colorado Springs, near I25 and Woodmen

Spots are limited. 👉 Reserve your spot here!

Come curious. Come exactly as you are.