Posture and Power

[progressally_objectives]

“When we feel powerful, we feel free — in control, unthreatened, and safe.” 

“The way we carry ourselves from moment to moment blazes the trail our lives take…. Expanding your body expands your mind, which allows you to be present.”

Amy Cuddy, Presence

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If your mother or grandmother was constantly telling you to “sit up straight!” … well, she was on to something!

Research now tells us that when we have “good” posture (see the video), and our body is open and expansive, we feel happier and more optimistic, we have less anxiety, we deal with stress better, we respond better to criticism, we have fewer self-critical thoughts, and we feel more energized. WOW!

Dacher Keltner, researcher at the Greater Good Science Center at UC-Berkeley, says that when we feel powerful, we are more attuned to opportunities than to threats, and we can access a greater repertoire of skillful behaviors. We feel in control, and we feel safe.

Watch the video on Posture and Power below:

Additional Findings

Amy Cuddy and her colleagues, based on their findings, were especially concerned about the devices we use throughout our days and how they change our posture, and thus our mood. In one study, they had participants use either an iPod, an iPad, a MacBook laptop, or a iMac desktop (i.e., smaller to larger devices). They then manipulated a situation that allowed them to determine how empowered and assertive participants were after just a few minutes of device usage. Sure enough, those who had been hunched over the smaller devices were less likely to advocate for themselves and were less able to handle a difficult situation than those who were on larger devices (and therefore more upright).

Their takeaway: monitor your posture and your device usage during the day!

“Our devices are already cognitively stealing our attention away from the moment, but are our devices also contorting us into physical positions that stifle our power and our ability to be present?”

Amy Cuddy

Another study compared the cortisol levels of people holding a high-power pose and people holding a low-power pose (cortisol is released when we are stressed). Those in a high-power pose had a 25% decrease in cortisol levels; those in the low-power pose had a 17% increase in cortisol levels!

You can see a cool interactive demo online showing how a person walks based on mood and stress here.

Your Assignment

• Try power posing today!
• Think of times during your day you could sneak in a quick power pose. Amy Cuddy recommends the bathroom — it’s private, and you’ll be there many times a day! Just take 10 seconds to hold your pose!
• Cuddy says even if you can’t actually pose, just imagine taking a power pose…. It works!
• Practice stretches by rolling your shoulders back and open your chest.
• Notice the times during the day when you take a contracted posture. What caused it?

“Your body is continuously and convincingly sending messages to your brain, and you get to control the content of those messages…. How you carry your body shapes how you carry out your life.”

Amy Cuddy

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Try some power posing today and tell us what you notice!