So you've been strutting around like a peacock, shoulders back, breasts out, though admittedly more for the male attention it garners than the health benefits it bestows. The good news is that, where posture is concerned, what makes you look good is also good for you. Standing up straight not only imparts a look of self-confidence, but good posture also keeps you from those all-too-familiar knots in your neck and back. Plus, keeping yourself slouched over and scrunched up creates more serious problems, like muscle imbalance, joint dysfunction and negative emotional state ‑- not to mention a serious lack of dates. Keep yourself standing tall and looking good with these tips on how to align that spine from six posture-perfect experts:

Terry Eagle, Chiropractor, Long Island, New York
Oftentimes, posture cannot be improved if there are spinal misalignments preventing you from standing correctly. Parents usually attribute poor posture to laziness, but this is not the case 99 percent of the time. Exercises, in conjunction with spinal manipulation can help. A good one is to stand with your back and heels against a wall. Lift your shoulders up and roll them back and down to touch the wall, with your head against the wall all the while. I recommend doing this one during television commercials. Large exercise balls are also wonderful to stretch both forward and backward on. Hanging from a chinning bar is also good. If you slouch, you must concentrate on holding in your abs. Try it. Slouch a bit and then hold in your belly ‑- it automatically causes the spine to elevate and helps you stand up straighter.