Dancing with the Stars: Tips for improved posture for Tom Delay and Michael Irvin

Insert photo caption or credit here

These dancing dudes may be fan favorites on TV's hit series but the judges are no fan of their postures. Without good posture, who can focus on their twinkle toes? For Tom Delay and Michael Irvin, these tips for improved posture are a quick fix to slim down, maximize height on the dance floor and energize the body.

Tip #1: Post a strong frame from the feet up. In dance lingo, your "frame" is the way you position your body. Hunched shoulders fracture the frame of two dancers and creates a shabby foundation for feet in motion. Amy Kniss of ehow.com says professional dance instructors like Cheryl Burke, Tom's on-stage partner, tells her students to focus on three features of "proper posture" - Centering, alignment and breathing. 

Tip #2: Patience for Posture. Be patient with yourself. Correcting bad posture takes time (just as it took to form bad posture) and being patient with the body will last in reversing life-long mishaps.

Tip #3: Scare Tactics. Remind yourself that having bad posture creates a slew of health problems. With a collapsed core, vital organs miss out on the fullness of breath and according to Alan McGee, M.D., an orthopaedic surgeon with SpineONE, most back problems are gradual and stem from years of poor posture. "Most people don't think about back safety during their everyday routines, but the majority of back problems evolve gradually as a result of slouching and other types of poor posture," he said. Use visual pictures of poor posture a la The Hunchback or have friends help you by reminding you to be tall when you being slouching.

Tip #4: Use What You're Working With. With devices like the iPosture, there's no reason not to have great posture. The iPosture, a small electronic gadget, attaches to your bra strap or undertee to keep your posture in check. After setting the device, users will get a small, vibrating reminder to straighten their frame. The posture gives another reminder 60 seconds later if you're still ignoring the good vibrations. To test it out, we had our tester used the device for two weeks and found herself needing less reminders during Week 2. "I was able to wear the device under my shirt, clipped to my bra strap and barely noticed wearing it," she said. "It was easy to use and better than any other alternative I've tried!" While she noticed some soreness after the first three days, she felt a more engaged core and stronger back through Week 2." For more information on the iPosture or to see working demos, click here.

For more celebrities who shake a jig, dance to stay in shape or go Dancing with the Stars....

          

YouTube Video: Tom Delay dances with the stars