“Mention posture, and people conjure antiquated images of stiff-backed children with books balanced on their heads,” writes Catherine Saint Louis in this week’s Thursday Styles section of The New York Times. “But today there is a new focus on standing tall that is less a matter of etiquette than a strategy for keeping aging bodies supple and pain free.”

According to Saint Louis, posture is now something trainers are watching for––Sports Club/L.A. and Equinox both evaluate slumping in initial sessions. Exercising without proper alignment can simply reinforce bad posture; “you tend to become a stronger version of your crooked self,” says one expert. It’s best to start improving things by doing what pilates and some yoga teachers have been preaching for years: building core strength. “Core” muscles surround the spine, and once strengthened and engaged, they help you naturally keep your abs tight and shoulders back, the key ingredients in good posture, writes Saint Louis. She also notes that methods like Alexander Technique, Rolfing, and Feldenkrais can help you beat the slouch.

You can also check out The Posture Page for other hints and this diagram for ergonomically correct desk-sitting (thighs and forearms parallel to the floor, neck straight and relaxed, feet flat).

Photo by Sam Lendle.