Non physical reasons we should NOT do posture analysis in Pilates sessions

If you've participated in a Pilates instructor training course, no doubt you will have been taught to do a postural analysis for your clients.

Basically that means having them stand still whilst you look closely at their body from their feet to their head to work out whether they have a less than "optimal" posture.

But do you know where this idea of "optimal posture" originates and what Pilates teachers are perpetuating by teaching good vs bad posture (i.e. needing to correct someone's faulty posture)...?

Posture has historically been tied to moral and social judgments, with 'good posture' often associated with health, civility, and moral character, while 'bad posture' was linked to deviance and disease. This narrative has deep cultural and historical roots, influenced by early religious beliefs and societal norms.

The medicalisation of posture in the U.S. began in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, with programs like the American Posture League promoting posture correction as a health imperative. This movement often reinforced societal power structures and discriminated against individuals based on their physical appearance.

The concept of 'posture panic' emerged alongside Darwin's theories on evolution, with concerns about the human spine's ability to support bipedalism. This led to anxieties about spinal fragility and the promotion of posture-enhancing products, which now constitute a $1.25 billion industry.

Historical posture campaigns, such as the Harvard Slouch Study and the American Posture League, used tools like the 'plum line' test and posture badges to enforce societal standards. These efforts often involved surveillance and competition, particularly in schools, and disproportionately affected marginalised groups.

Posture has been used as a discriminatory tool, with poor posture historically leading to rejection from colleges, jobs, and even immigration. For example, scoliosis and flat feet were once considered disqualifying conditions for military service and other opportunities.

The scrutiny of posture parallels other societal health panics, such as the obesity crisis, where idealised body standards create unnecessary fear and discrimination. The BMI and posture assessments are critiqued for being poor indicators of health and perpetuating harmful stereotypes.

The romanticisation of 'natural' or 'primal' lifestyles, such as the paleo diet or animal-inspired movements, is critiqued as a logical fallacy. These ideas often oversimplify and misrepresent indigenous cultures while reinforcing a predominantly white identity in fitness marketing.

Historical practices like nude posture photography in colleges, which persisted until the 1970s, highlight the extreme measures taken to assess posture. These practices were invasive and often led to objectification, with no significant evidence linking poor posture to pain.

Are you perpetuating this culture of "good" vs "bad" posture? It might feel like an easy sell to propose that someone's pain is due to their "poor", "faulty", "sub-optimal" posture and blame pain on things like "hyperlordosis", "hyperkyphosis", "text neck" and "winging scapulas" but none of that is actually based on any kind of scientific evidence. In fact research shows no correlation but more on that next time.

Are you re-thinking teaching "good" posture?

I highly recommend reading "Slouch: Posture Panic in Modern America" by Beth Linker