3 Simple Ways You Can Help Fix Your Client’s Posture

When was the last time you checked your client’s body alignment? Of course you look at them all the time to ensure they’re performing their techniques correctly. However, what about their body alignment when they’re not training? So many people have developed bad habits while just standing, sitting, or walking that it’s no wonder their muscles become tight, overstretched, and pain inducing.

As fitness and health professionals, part of our responsibility is keeping our client’s safe; sometimes this means keeping them safe from themselves by helping them understand the specifics of what could cause a problem. The next time you see your client, pay extra attention to their body alignment and overall posture.

What If you aren’t trained to do this?

It’s genuinely surprising how the health and fitness industry forgoes posture and body alignment in their training. Posture and body alignment issues continue to wage war on so many Americans in forms like lower back pain, forward head posture, text neck, excessive lordosis, and many other pain inducing conditions. However, are you comfortable and prepared handling these issues? You can start by paying attention to the way your client performs their rituals and how they perform their exercises.

You’d be shocked how many people have poor posture and don’t realize nor understand how it affects them. This is where you come in; you’re the perfect candidate to help get the ball rolling. As mentioned above, the first step forward is paying attention to body alignment. Remind your clients to do this and encourage them to develop an awareness of their body’s alignment.  

What’s the big deal anyway?

Poor posture can lead to postural distortions. Prolonged postural distortions can lead to problems such as pain and discomfort, muscular imbalances, loss of range of motion and muscular strength, and permanently stretched ligaments. Can you imagine experiencing pain or discomfort while opening a door, going for a walk, or sitting still?

Prolonged bad posture means pain and discomfort. Recreational activities, family events, and job related tasks become cumbersome as a result of posture related problems and if left unchecked these issues can worsen with time and require surgery.

I hope you’re convinced on the seriousness of this. If you’re still unsure about where to begin, here are 3 ways you can help your client’s change their posture:

1. Correct their form while exercising

It should be natural that you pay attention to their alignment. It’s important that you correct their form while they train. Explain how to perform the technique correctly and hold them to it. Pause the session and correct them if necessary. The last thing you want is having them perform exercises in poor alignment and developing a problem.

2. Make suggested changes to regularly performed tasks 

Walking, sitting, driving, bike riding, or just cleaning the dishes, provide some ideas of consistent habits where they need to pay attention to their posture. Suggest ways they can make adjustments. If they understand what’s required, they’re more likely to pay closer attention in the future.

3. Incorporate information on corrective measures or use corrective exercises in your sessions

What happens if they already have posture problems or their body isn’t aligned properly? There’s a great chance that this is already an issue. You can suggest corrective measures or incorporate corrective exercises into your current training program. They have to learn how to adjust and adapt certain movements to help stretch and/or strengthen the necessary muscle groups while maintaining proper alignment.

This may sound daunting, but as a trained professional who cares for the wellbeing of their client, it’s necessary. It shows that you care for them by taking the extra mile to teach them about their body. People who feel you care will care for you, don’t be surprised if you get a referral or something great happens as a result. Do your part, help adjust their posture and keep them on point. Your clients will love you for it.

If you’re new to posture or you’re unsure on how you could possibly do any of this, check out our Posture analysis E-book. The "Beginner's Guide to Posture Analysis and Correction" was written with someone like you in mind. You’ll learn how to analyze, correct, and implement posture programs that will help align your client’s posture. You’ll also learn how you can profit from creating and implementing these programs into your current line of work.

You can check out the book here >>

I want to also share a video that I feel will help start the posture conversation. What’s your body alignment like when you’re driving? Do you know how to adjust the seating to effectively maintain a safe alignment? I discuss this and more in my video below: