Superhero power pose! Pow!

An awesome little trick that I use to help me find that extra oomph to get me through a tough training session is to stand like a super hero between my sets.
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I take a wide stance, stand tall with a proud chest, and head held high for 2 minutes.

Our body language is a great indicator of how we are feeling.  Small closed postures can indicate vulnerability, low energy, fear, and lack of confidence – negative feelings.  Where open postures that take up space show strength, confidence, and power – positive feelings.

So if our body language can show how we may be feeling, we can reverse that mind-body connection and change how we feel by changing our body language.

A Harvard University study showed that by holding powerful postures for 2 minutes, not only did people feel more confident and were willing to take higher risks, their hormones responded accordingly, showing increased levels of testosterone in anticipation of winning, and decreased levels of the stress hormone cortisol. 

Amy Cuddy one of the lead researchers in that study discusses their findings and how our posture not only affects other people’s perceptions of us, but how we perceive ourselves.

Watch her TED talk on the findings HERE and see how not only can you “fake it until you make it” but “fake it until you BECOME it”

 
So our body language has a lot to say about us – so what message do you want it to say when you next step up to that squat rack?