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July 22, 2012

My posture discovery

A posture is the most noticeable and the loudest aspect of body language and physical movements. Everybody of us adapts and drops different postures almost unconsciously. It’s happens throughout 24 hours of a day and throughout our entire lives. Adapting posture is nothing but an adjustment we make with physical, emotional or social situations at any given moment.


We may not express emotions on face, speak, look or make any hand gestures at all for a long time but we always adapt different postures all the time. It’s a core mechanism of human body. Culture, heredity, age, habits and working conditions and physical demands have their own impact on postures we adapt.

Many of us might be unconsciously or consciously copy posture of their own parents, grand parents or individuals they follow. Posture speaks to eyes so clearly that we even can judge a person’s profession just by looking at kind of posture it adapts while working.

Just take a close look at a vigilant police officer or security guard on duty. He or she must be standing upright, bluffed chest, widened shoulders, looking straight and both hands entangled at back or rested on hips. This alert body posture is enough intimidating to offenders.

A particular posture or manner of moving or positioning body into physical space creates the (first) impression and also establish an identity of an individual. If you don't believe in this then do closely watch politicians, leaders, film stars, celebrities, sportsmen, performers and media personalities.

Legs locked by hands
My very interest in different postures draw my attention towards a particular posture that is not at all mentioned according to myself anywhere in books which I've read so far. I call it as the “Locked legs” posture because the detailed long term observations eventually demands the same title for it.

While attending meetings, seminars or conversations; many persons sit in a very uncomfortable posture. They put one leg on the other, extend both hands forward and tightly clasp them on knee which is sitting on the top on the another leg below. Sometimes, clasped leg is slightly lifted upward. Even a lonely individual can be observed doing the same.

This particular posture really elevated my curiosity because the flexed, stretched or tightened muscles cannot be a relaxed mental state at all. Hence I decided to observe a number of people adapting the same posture in different environments, situations, conditions and circumstances, including myself and my closed ones.

Even we stay at one place surrounded by people; we unconsciously justify interest or level of comfort about what we are interacting with. If we feel something interesting and attention worthy, we become more relaxed and receptive towards the same. If we feel boredom, disinterest or discomfort; either we try to get away or keep our senses shut and remain distracted.

Many a times, we have to manage to keep ourselves at the same place without our will due to some unavoidable circumstances e. g. waiting in a long queue inside a clinic, being watched by many at once, listening or watching boring stuff for a long time and discussing something we really want to conclude immediately and get off.

Stretching both hands straight and clasping them on a knee is an unconscious effort to maintain ourselves at same place without our will. We clasp our knees in attempt to sooth body's natural temptation of walking away to avoid boredom, disinterest or discomfort. Clasping knee is done also in sitting position.

Many people can be observed doing same along with swinging upper body (torso) or unclasped leg. Some people especially children or youngsters tap their legs continuously but it's irritating in social situations. Clasping knees by hands is a more mature and civilized way of appearing fairly present.

Related Articles:
1) Postures 2) Observation is the key 3) Good posture is Healthy 4) Power Postures