Power poses

[SinkorSwim]

So my therapist wants me to start doing power poses for a minute a day to help boost my confidence like superwoman pose and practice not being so scrunched up. I felt absolutely ridiculous trying to attempt them in her office. I am not a very outgoing person and I like to stay hidden so it's natural for me to have crossed legs. She says that this will help build my confidence. I think stupid to be honest. Is my therapist actually on to something?

 

[EveHarrington]

I can see where she’s on to something.

I mean if we are confident in our posture then we will project a more powerful image of ourselves. People will respect us more. We will feel more comfortable in our environment.

Well, at least this is my thinking!

 

[bellbird]

I remember watching a TED talk years ago on a similar topic to what your therapist is talking about, link: Your body language may shape who you are | Amy Cuddy
I never have personally committed to 'power posing' so I can't offer any personal experience. But research always helps me to digest strange concepts, so the video may help.

I would suggest trying them when you are on your own, rather than in therapy to start with? That way you won't be put off by any perceived judgement from others. I mean, it's medication-free and 1 minute a day, it's worth a shot right? :) Maybe I'll join in the challenge too.

 

[Justmehere]

It’s a real idea. I’ve tried it.

There are mixed opinions on this. The co-author of the first study done on original power pose, Dead Link Removed

But there is no harm in trying it out.

 

[bellbird]

The co-author of the first study done on original power pose, Dead Link Removed

Oh interesting! I hadn't see this

 

[somerandomguy]

I agree with your therapist. I used to sit completely scrunched up, trying to take up as little room as possible. A therapist (not my current one) encouraged me to sit up straight, legs and arms uncrossed. I found I was more receptive to ideas and possibilities if I took a more vulnerable pose. Sitting that way allowed me to take up space in the world and literally opened my heart. It helped me get rid of some of the negativity I felt.

 

[FauxLiz]

I heard Amy Cuddy speak st a conference on power poses and body language. It felt and sounds strange but when I know I am going into an important meeting and I am nervous I will spend just maybe 30 secs doing a “power pose” if nothing else it redirects my brain to positive ideas.

 

[Rose White]

@Justmehere that was an eye-opening article, thanks for the link.

 

[Friday]

I think the name sucks, and is super cringy :wtf: ...but most new agey thefts of old standbys are... as the concept itself is actually very solid. And very solid across several disciplines. Science, medicine, eastern medicine, arts & performing arts, athletics, military training, early childhood education, early childhood intervention, torture & interrogation... list goes on. The way we carry ourselves? (Or are allowed to carry ourselves). How we use our body in daily tasks? Affects not only how others see us, but how we perceive ourselves, and how we feel overall.

You’re a runner, so I’m going to ask you to do an experiment. The next time you’re about to go running? Already stretched out & warmed up... notice how you’re holding yourself. You’re probably standing shoulders back, chest expanded, head tilted, spine sinuous, weight more on the balls of your feet, but a very authoritative stance. Now slump. Slouch. Pull into yourself. Look down and away. You’ll probably feel instantly different. From relaxed / confident / ready / excited or determined to ... what the HELL just happened??? :eek:

Now play around with it a little bit. Ready to run, curled in on yourself, ready to run, curled in on yourself. Like a puppet with its strings cut, ideally.

It’s shocking the first time you shift to a pose that you regularly assume FROM a pose you regularly assume... out of context. Even actors, who do this for a living have to often shake their whole body out to clear the emotions and thought patterns that come along with different poses/body language.

And, yes. It works in the other direction, too. Assuming confident poses? Helps teach confidence. You see good parents, teachers, coaches making these adjustments all the time as they’re building the kids up (as well as the opposite, with shitty grownups). It’s not about faking confidence, it’s about learning a whole new level of it in the beginning, and pumping up! Let’s get ready! Driving emotions... when people are really solid in it. Think sports team pre game, or doing “muscle arms” with little kids who are nervous.

Okay, I could talk about this all day and I’ve blathered on enough. Point being, it’s a wicked cool thing when used for the powers of good.

 

[whiteraven]

I have a friend who does these. She believes fully in them.

 

[Angrboda]

This definitely works for me. Someone gave me a spear last Christmas, and I got in the habit of just standing and holding it when I was panicky and anxious because it made me feel safer. At first I thought it was just having a spear in my hands. Nothing says badass quite like a seven foot long bladed implement of death. But then one day I noticed that when I picked it up I automatically started standing really straight and tall with my shoulders back and my chin up. So I started just trying to pay attention to my posture when I was feeling bad. If I focus on keeping my body in a more confident stance it automatically starts making me feel a little better. The trick is remembering to do it.

 

[Tornadic Thoughts]

I don't call it doing power poses, but rather, opening the heart space as I do stretches and poses that open me up, so to speak vs. my usual drawn up tense and hesitant state of being. It makes a noticeable difference in how my energies flow the rest of the day when I make time to do them each morning.

I start in bed as I'm doing hip flexor stretches and such, then practice holding my arms in open and upward poses while I'm making my morning herbal infusions waiting for the water to boil, while in the shower or bath, while hula hooping, while I'm dancing around the house, and while taking walks outdoors, etc.

I try to hold them for at least 10 slow and deep diaphragmatic breaths, often more depending on the comfort level of the pose....I never force it or start thinking "no pain no gain", although I do experience pain at times from trying new poses....but started out with holding them for 4 breaths each.

Oxygenating the cells and allowing the body to safely and gently expand in the opposite direction for a while does my body and mind all kinds of good. I even stretch my thumbs and fingers back each day to give them a chance to stretch out for a change.

Most of the things that sounded weird as hell to me, based heavily on what I'd been taught help was supposed to look like, and the things that made me feel like a damn fool while trying it have been some of the most amazing helpful tools that I still use, but didn't even know I needed.