It seems we depend a lot on other practitioners to fix our aches and pains. Back pain - get an adjustment at the chiropractor, sore neck - go to the massage therapist, shoulder pain - go get acupuncture, knee pain - replace it! Although I believe those modalities are beneficial for some, I also know that often times people ignore where the problem actually stems from.

For the last 4 years, I have studied Posture Alignment with THE EGOSCUE METHOD and Yoga as Therapy with Doug Keller. Both believe that if you fix your posture, you will not have pain. From personal experience, I understand the importance of proper alignment. I suffered from major SI joint pain for months before correcting the problem by using The Egoscue Method. The pain was stemming from muscle imbalances that caused rotation in my torso and hips. Even though I had symptom in my low back and in the joint itself, the real issue was not where I was feeling the actual symptom. After realigning my posture and loading joints, there was an immediate effect on how my lower body felt and functioned.

The one thing people overlook is posture. It is a simple concept: our joints are supposed to line up, creating 90 degree angles. This is the blueprint of our skeletal structure. If it deviates from this position, our bodies will let us know with pain! The great thing is you can fix it... yourself. Just like a chiropractic adjustment, the goal is to move the bones into the right position. With exercise therapy (corrective postural exercises), you retrain the right muscles to move the bone into the right position and, most importantly, get those muscles to hold the bone there!

Here is a simple test to check your own posture. If you answer yes to any of these questions, you may want to correct the muscle imbalances present in your body.

1. Stand with your heels touching the wall, back against the wall.
Is your head touching the wall? Are both shoulders against the wall?
Do you feel like you are falling forward?
2. Take a look at yourself in the mirror. Are your feet facing forward?
Are you knee caps facing the same way? Is one shoulder higher than the other?
3. Close your eyes. Do you feel like your weight is evenly distributed?
Are you more on your heels or toes?

Here at LIFE, injury prevention is just as important for me as it is for our clients. Getting our clients out of existing pain is priority. By practicing proper alignment, form and function with corrective postural exercises, I make sure our clients are taking care

Amber is an accredited Exercise Therapist and Posture Alignment Specialist, certified by the Egoscue University. She holds the highest level of certification that the school offers. She also studied yoga as therapy with Doug Keller. And studied circuit training at Circuit Works LA. Amber has the following awards and recognitions: Ms. Fitness Hawaiian Islands 2008; nationally ranked fitness competitor; and Level 9 competitive gymnast, nationally ranked and MVP for two years in a row.