OH! Magazine - Australian Version January 2014 (Australian Version) | Page 21

LISA
WESTLAKE

PERFECT POSTURE

www.physicalbest.com

( Women’s Health )

Lisa Westlake provides the following useful tips
to help teenage girls ensure healthy posture
for the long term.
ypically, we think of teenage girls as
bursting
with
vitality
and
confidence, but the transition from being a
child to a teenager can have its challenges,
both physically and psychologically.
One of the most significant changes
for adolescent girls are the hormonallybased physical ones, which lead to the
onset of periods, altered body shape and,
of course, breast development.
While we do our best to boost their
confidence and self-esteem, many girls
feel very self-conscious about their body
during this stage, and it’s not uncommon
for them to develop a tendency to slouch
in a bid to hide their developing breasts.

T

At the same time, an increase in study
demands can further compromise
posture, due to more time spent sitting at
a desk or computer, with less time for
sport and physical activity.
The typical growth spurts and body
changes can also result in feelings of
clumsiness and/or awkwardness, which
provides yet another temptation to
withdraw from sport.
A healthy diet, sunshine, fresh air and
fitness can go a long way to combat the
demands of extra study and other
consequences experienced by new
teenage girls.

BE AWARE…
Girls who tend to over-exercise can
compromise their hormonal development,
bone density and overall health and wellness,
so it’s always a good idea to ensure they are
approaching exercise in a balanced and
sensible manner.

TIPS FOR HEALTHY, HAPPY DEVELOPING TEENAGERS
Keep active and make exercise a
part of each day
Encourage yo չ