Book balancing . . . doesn’t seem to lead to particularly good posture, actually.

I feel like talking about “Posture” is a bit prim and old-fashioned, like “Let’s all go to finishing school and work on our hope chests and wait for gentlemen callers,” you know?  Plus we’re all bent over computers and smartphones and co-sleeping with our laptops anyway, so why fight the inevitable?  Well, for a couple of reasons.

Considering I usually blog sprawled on my bed hunched over my laptop, I would have failed finishing school anyway.

One of the reasons is that bad posture can cause back pain.  And another reason is that bad posture can be an unconscious coping mechanism for dealing with an ill-fitting bra.

JUST TO BE CLEAR: the weight of larger breasts can cause back pain and headaches even with good posture and the right bra, and for many women reduction surgery feels like a new lease on life and brings enormous whole-body health benefits.  So if you know your bra is the right style and fit for you, and you practice good posture conscientiously, and you’re still in pain and you’re thinking about surgery, you should do what you decide is best for you.  There are many very personal reasons a woman might seek out surgery, and it is and should be entirely up to her. Continue reading →