posture 1. a. A position of the body or of body parts: a sitting posture. b. An attitude; a pose: assumed a posture of angry defiance. 2.

A characteristic way of bearing one's body; carriage: stood with good posture. 3. Relative placement or arrangement: the posture of the buildings on the land. 4. A stance or disposition with regard to something: "Those bases are essential to our military posture in the Middle East" (Gerard Smith). 5. A frame of mind affecting one's thoughts or behavior; an overall attitude. Posture 1. The position of the body; the situation or disposition of the several parts of the body with respect to each other, or for a particular purpose; especially (Fine Arts), the position of a figure with regard to the several principal members by which action is expressed; attitude. 2. Place; position; situation. 3. State or condition, whether of external circumstances, or of internal feeling and will; disposition; mood; as, a posture of defense; the posture of affairs. 4. To place in a particular position or attitude; to dispose the parts of, with reference to a particular purpose; as, to posture one's self; to posture a model. 5. To assume a particular posture or attitude; to contort the body into artificial attitudes, as an acrobat or contortionist; also, to pose. 6. Fig.: To assume a character; as, to posture as a saint. Posture is defined as the manner in which the body is held upright against gravity as it's sitting down, lying down or standing up. Good posture may require a bit of training, with the goal of having the least amount of strain placed on the muscles and ligaments as possible. Causes of Poor Posture Habits such as carrying a heavy purse or bag over one shoulder is one way that poor posture can develop. Overloaded backpacks are another, as well as sitting the wrong way at a desk over time. Physical conditions that may contribute to poor posture include obesity and degenerative spine disorders. Poor posture can also be rooted in psychological issues such as low self-esteem. Benefits of Proper Posture While contributing to a good appearance, good posture may prevent backaches and muscular pain. With proper posture, the body requires less energy to uphold itself, which may prevent fatigue. Proper posture decreases the stress on ligaments and protects the spine from being bent into abnormal positions. In addition, proper posture may help prevent arthritis; it helps decrease the abnormal wearing of joint surfaces. Posture Tips When carrying a purse, briefcase or backpack, only pack it with absolute necessities to avoid back strain. Choose a backpack made of a lightweight material. Shoulder straps on purses should be wide, adjustable and padded. When working at a desk, the workstation or desk should be at elbow height. Avoid slouching or leaning forward to look at the computer. Shoulders should be kept straight and parallel to the hips. Take frequent breaks to stretch or walk around to stay refreshed.

poise 1 [poiz] Show IPA noun, verb, poised, poising. noun 1.a state of balance or equilibrium, as from equality or equaldistribution of weight; equipoise. 2.a dignified, self-confident manner or bearing; composure;selfpossession: to show poise in company. 3.steadiness; stability: intellectual poise. 4.suspense or wavering, as between rest and motion or twophases of motion: the poise of the tid es. 5.the way of being poised, held, or carried. 1. [n] great coolness and composure under strain; "keep your cool" 2. [n] a cgs unit of dynamic viscosity equal to one dyne-second per square centimeter; the viscosity of a fluid in which a force of one dyne per square centimeter maintains a velocity of 1 centimeter per second 3. [n] a state of being balanced in a stable equilibrium 4. [v] hold or carry in equilibrium 5. [v] cause to be balanced or suspended 6. [v] prepare (oneself) for something unpleasant or difficult 7. [v] be motionless, in suspension; "The bird poised for a few moments before it attacked" SIITNG The Chair

Sit in an adjustable chair that supports your lower back and position your chair so the top of you desk is in line with your elbows. Elevate legs above hip level. Head, Neck and Torso The position of the head, neck and torso should be one where all three are aligned when sitting upright. Arms

Arms should rest against the sides of the body and should be bent at the elbows 90 to 120 degrees. Lower Half of Torso The lower half of the torso should be resting on a soft pillow. Feet should be comfortable and resting on the ground or on something that elevates and supports the feet. Change Position Get up from your chair and stretch or walk every now and then. Swing arms and flex fingers. Maintain Awareness Check posture when sitting to make sure you don't fall back into your bad posture habits. Make sure your back is not rounded and you're sitting straight and tall. How to Sit at Work

At work, sitting posture should be erect, with feet on the floor or a footrest and your spine against the back of the chair. Elbows should rest against your body, and if you are typing, wrists should be straight, not angled up or down. Keep your neck flexible, moving and stretching as needed. Keep your computer screen at or below eye level and your work materials in easy reach, to avoid bending over. STANDING PROPER STANDING POSTURE Proper standing posture can help to keep your skeletal system in alignment so your muscles can operate at peak efficiency while reducing the strain on the body caused by the natural forces of gravity

Although standing is something we do everyday most of us have never really given "the art of proper standing" a second thought. Many people are actually unaware that their standing habits can contribute to their back and neck problems. If you're one of those people, the following "general standing guidelines" should help you out. General Rules For Standing - maintain a straight spine rather than slouching to the side - avoid slouching forward or hyperextending - keep the chin up with the head centered over the shoulders - keep the feet slightly less than shoulder width apart - keep the knees slightly bent - wear comfortable shoes and leave the heels at home - avoid standing still for long periods of time, rather, sit down or move around rise [rahyz] Show IPA verb, rose, risen [riz-uhn] Show IPA, rising, noun verb (used without object) 1.to get up from a lying, sitting, or kneeling posture; assumean upright position: She rose and w alked over to greet me. Withgreat effort he rose to his knees. 2.to get up from bed, especially to begin the day after anight's sleep: to rise early. 3.to become erect and stiff, as the hair in fright. 4.to get up after falling or being thrown down.