6 Exercises to Improve Posture and Upper-Body Strength

While it’s easy to find leg routines that you can perform with minimal equipment, it’s tough to improve posture and upper-body strength without overworking certain muscle groups and underworking others. This can lead to muscular imbalances that exacerbate the issue.

“Muscle imbalances can be a product of performing too many exercises in single planes of motion,” explains Joelle Cavagnaro, MS, CEO of Level TEN and co-owner of Fit Coach Pro. “Technology has also done us a bit of a disservice in the posture department. The slouching you do when sitting at your computer? The hunched-over position you’re in when scrolling Instagram? Muscularly, these rounded shoulder and forward neck postural examples are typically a product of weak or tight chest muscles, a weak core, tight or weak glutes, and a weak back.”

Fortunately, many of the same movements that strengthen your upper body also can improve your posture. The trick is knowing how to put those movements together so you stretch tight muscle groups while you strengthen others, allowing you to get more out of your workout in less time.

Improve your posture with these moves »