• Practicing yoga can help improve posture by strengthening and stretching muscles that straighten the spine.Jupiterimages/Comstock/Getty Images
  
  Poor posture can begin in early in developmental growth stages if good posture habits are not formed and enforced. Poor posture can also develop later in life as a result of repetitive activities such as working at a computer, watching TV, sitting in office chairs. Also, the way you stand and sleep contribute to the quality of your posture. While poor posture can lead to back pain and other long term health problems, it can easily be corrected by following a few tips.
  
  

Physical Activity

• Physical activity plays an integral role in spine health. When muscles become fatigued, it becomes easier to settle into slouching, slumping and poor postures, which adds extra pressure to the neck and back. To improve your posture and resist muscle fatigue, you can change positions frequently when sitting or standing. Every 30 minutes you can take a small break from what you are doing and stretch, stand for a few minutes or take a small walk. Regular aerobic exercise like walking, swimming or cycling keep muscles strong and flexible so that they can support the spine properly. Core and back strengthening exercises like yoga and Pilates can help improve posture as well.
  
  

Footwear

• To improve posture when standing, you can wear supportive footwear like arch-supported and cushioned shoes. Wearing high-heeled shoes regularly can be detrimental to good posture because these shoes disrupt the body's center of gravity and therefore alter the alignment of the body as a whole. This change in alignment negatively affects back support and posture. If you are on your feet all day for work, you can also improve your posture by standing on a rubber mat when possible.
  
  

Sitting and Standing Posture Tips

• To improve sitting posture, you must understand the correct alignment of the head, spine, neck and other body parts. All of these parts work together to create good, supportive posture. The head should be straight and level with the top of the spine with a relaxed neck and shoulders. The pelvis should tilt forward and the abdomen should be constricted slightly to support the spine and bear weight. Bad standing postures can create the illusion of additional pounds. For proper standing posture, shoulders should be back and down with the chest elevated. Of course, this should be done without straining the muscles. The jaw should be at a level angle and the back should not be overly arched. You will have to engage your core stomach muscles to prevent arching of the back.