Uptight? Lighten Up!

A rigid body posture signifies that a person is uptight, frightened, uncomfortable, nervous, or inflexible. Under certain circumstances, individuals need to be inflexible and follow a rigid code of behavior. But while the order “head up, shoulders back, chest out” works well if you are in the military, it doesn't work in real-life circumstances.
Even when you stand up straight with your shoulders back, you need to maintain a relaxed demeanor. The following shoulder roll exercise is designed to help you release tension in your shoulder region and arms.

1. First, rotate the right shoulder forward, and keep it in that position for approximately three seconds.
2. Keeping your right shoulder in that position, rotate the left shoulder forward for three seconds.
3. Now that both of your shoulders are forward, keep them in this position for about three seconds. Feel the muscles stretch as you maintain this position. It should feel good.
4. Next, rotate the left shoulder back and keep it in that position for three seconds.
5. Likewise, rotate the right shoulder back, keeping it in that position for three seconds.
6. Now that both shoulders are back, leave them there for three seconds, all the while feeling the stretch. This too, should feel good.
7. Rotate both shoulders forward and both shoulders backwards. Try not to rotate them too far back, and relax them.

Now your shoulders are in the proper position to help you maintain a good posture.