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"I&amp;#x27;ll never forget the teacher I had who told me to stop slouching or else I&amp;#x27;d grow up to be stooped--mostly because I was 13 and it was in front of everyone and I was so embarrassed. But I still remember her not-entirely-accurate warning when I sit at the computer (I look like an exclamation point when I type), and she may have been onto something else, too... Recent research from San Francisco State University has shown that people who slouch tend to have lower energy and higher levels of depression than people who don&amp;#x27;t. Specifically, they compared participants who walked down a hallway, all stooped, with participants who skipped (and I&amp;#x27;m just guessing that it&amp;#x27;s hard to be depressed when you&amp;#x27;re skipping). But it makes sense, right? Standing or sitting with a slouch makes it harder for oxygen to flow through your lungs and up to your noggin. Plus, another study from Harvard found that people who adopt &amp;quot;power poses&amp;quot;--straight spines, shoulders wide--have an increase in self-confidence and a 25 percent decrease in the stress hormone cortisol. So what&amp;#x27;s the best way to skip the slouch and stand up straight? According to Carol Krucoff, a yoga teacher and author of Healing Yoga for Neck and Shoulder Pain: Imagine there&amp;amp;#8217;s a headlight on your breast bone. Whether you&amp;#x27;re sitting or standing, always have that headlight shining forward. Then, keeping your head centered over your shoulders, extend your head toward the ceiling without lifting your chin. What&amp;#x27;s your posture like? More on dealing with depression: * Read + Pass On: New Warnings About Pregnancy &amp;amp; Antidepressants * Mindy Kaling Does THIS When She&amp;#x27;s Depressed (Does It Make You Happier, Too?) * Feeling Anxious? 3 Safe Alternatives to Taking Unprescribed Xanax Photo: Thinkstock"^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
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